New Delhi: What was supposed to be a routine flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv turned into a terrifying mid-air emergency on Wednesday (September 30). Around 180 passengers were left frightened as chaos erupted in the cockpit thousands of feet above the ground.
Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 travelling from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport, landed safely at Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Flydubai confirmed that all passengers and crew were safe and accounted for. The airline said it had been working with authorities and would provide more information once confirmed details became available. Further updates will be issued as additional confirmed details become available,” a flydubai spokesperson said.
An Israeli official told Reuters that the emergency signals were sent after the two pilots got into a physical fight in the cockpit. Israeli authorities later said the incident was an internal personnel matter. One woman said passengers heard screaming before the cockpit door opened and they saw blood inside. She said a pilot appeared to have been attacked with a pocket knife. Another passenger, Noam, told The Times of Israel by phone that there was shouting in the aircraft as passengers began to understand that something was seriously wrong. She said they learned that one of the pilots had been stabbed and was badly injured. One passenger described the fear in the cabin and said there were moments when people believed they might not survive. The airline also said that the safety and well-being of passengers and crew were its highest priority.
Reports suggest that the incident was not a hijacking. Israeli media quoted passengers describing a chaotic scene after the incident began. The signal led to an immediate security response in Israel. Israeli fighter jets were scrambled as authorities initially assessed whether the aircraft could have been hijacked. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior security officials also held consultations over the incident. “Our teams are working with the relevant authorities.
