Terror in the Skies Over Saudi Arabia
FlyDubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv plunged more than 17,000 feet on September 30 after a violent incident broke out in the cockpit. All passengers survived.
Two hours into the flight, a violent struggle broke out between the pilots in the cockpit. Israeli PM Netanyahu said the co-pilot stabbed the captain and tried to crash the plane.
Flight-tracking data shows the Boeing 737 MAX 8 fell from 34,000 to around 16,600 feet in just over two minutes — an extreme, near-vertical descent.
The crew squawked 7500 — the transponder code for unlawful interference — confirming this was treated as a hijacking in progress.
Israel scrambled fighter jets to escort the plane as it approached its airspace, treating the incident as a potential terror attack.
Passengers — including off-duty Israeli security personnel — reportedly helped restrain the co-pilot during the struggle.
The pilots diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia — landing safely with all passengers and crew alive despite the chaos.
Around 130 Israelis found themselves unexpectedly in Saudi Arabia — a country with no diplomatic ties to Israel.
Both the captain and co-pilot were hospitalized in Saudi Arabia with injuries from the cockpit struggle.
Authorities have not confirmed a motive — investigators are weighing terrorism against a possible mental-health episode.
Passengers and crew are being praised for preventing a far worse outcome at 34,000 feet.
The incident comes just days before Israel's election, adding political weight to an already shocking event.
Get the complete timeline, official statements, and latest updates on the FlyDubai FZ1073 cockpit incident.