A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv narrowly averted disaster on Wednesday morning after a violent struggle in the cockpit caused the plane to plunge nearly 18,000 feet. Flight FZ 1073 departed Dubai International Airport at 6:49 a.m. local time carrying 174 passengers, predominantly Israeli nationals, on a routine journey among more than two dozen daily flights between the United Arab Emirates and Israel.
The initial stages of the flight proceeded uneventfully, with the aircraft cruising at 34,000 feet over the Gulf and then the Saudi desert. However, about two and a half hours into the flight, passengers reported a sudden escalation of chaos and panic. Eyewitness accounts described screaming and a commotion near the cockpit. A passenger seated near the front said he heard sounds resembling a struggle.
Flight tracking data indicated the plane suddenly entered a sharp descent, dropping approximately 18,000 feet within 90 seconds. Over the following 11 minutes, the aircraft repeatedly climbed and dived as its ground speed fluctuated between 400 and over 600 knots, exceeding normal cruising speeds. Passengers, including around 30 children aboard, reacted with fear and distress as the situation unfolded.
At 8:31 a.m. Israeli time, the aircraft sent a “general emergency” signal to air traffic control, later changing it to “unlawful interference,” a code typically associated with hijacking or cockpit disturbance. Israeli authorities subsequently identified a co-pilot as the aggressor, describing him as an Omani national. While his motives remain unclear, reports indicate that he stabbed the pilot, triggering a physical altercation inside the cockpit.
Several passengers and crew members intervened to subdue the attacker. One Israeli passenger, Tzvika Manes, together with a crew member, managed to enter the cockpit and assist in the effort to restrain the assailant, reportedly using headphone cords to bind him. Additional passengers also helped restrain the individual before a second pilot took control of the aircraft.
Video footage shared on social media showed the attacker bloodied and tied to the floor, receiving oxygen from crew members. The original pilot was also injured but conscious. A crew member stood guard outside the cockpit as the plane regained some stability, maintaining an altitude near 15,000 feet—significantly lower than typical cruising levels.
The aircraft remained within Saudi airspace as it continued northwest toward Israel until briefly entering Jordanian airspace at 8:40 a.m., where it then turned back into Saudi airspace. The pilot ultimately decided to perform an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.
Passengers expressed relief and jubilation upon landing. Accounts describe an atmosphere of celebration, with passengers clapping and singing traditional Jewish songs, emphasizing themes of courage and survival amidst the ordeal. The plane sustained damage to its rudder during the struggle but landed without further incident.
Authorities opened investigations into the incident, and questions remain about the identity and motive of the co-pilot behind the attack, while passengers and crew were praised for their role in preventing a potential tragedy.