FlyDubai Co-Pilot Allegedly Stabbed Captain at 34,000 Feet in Suspected Attempt to Crash Plane Carrying Israelis

A FlyDubai flight headed from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced into an emergency landing at Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain mid-flight in what authorities suspect may have been a deliberate attempt to bring down the aircraft, according to Israeli media reports on Wednesday.

How the Incident Unfolded

Flight 1073, a Boeing 737 MAX carrying an estimated 180 passengers — many of them Israeli nationals — had reached a cruising altitude of 34,000 feet when the situation turned violent roughly two hours and fifteen minutes after departure.

The co-pilot reportedly stabbed the captain in an apparent effort to seize control of the aircraft. Investigators are now looking into whether the attack was part of a premeditated terror plot.

Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft plunging from 34,000 feet to approximately 17,000 feet in under a minute. It briefly climbed back to around 21,275 feet before descending again to just below 15,000 feet. Two emergency transponder codes were broadcast from the cockpit in quick succession: squawk 7700, the universal distress signal, followed by squawk 7500, which specifically indicates a hijacking or unlawful interference.

For the next hour, the plane fluctuated in altitude around 15,000 feet, suggesting it was being flown manually rather than on autopilot.

Passengers Intervened to Subdue the Attacker

Several passengers managed to overpower the co-pilot and restrain him. Two off-duty pilots who happened to be on board as passengers then entered the cockpit and guided the aircraft to an emergency landing at Tabuk.

All passengers were safely evacuated. The injured captain was transported to a medical facility for treatment.

Harrowing Videos Emerged from Inside the Cabin

Footage recorded by passengers captured the terrifying scenes on board. One clip showed the bloodied captain lying on the cabin floor near the cockpit door, with the restrained co-pilot tied up beside him.

In the recordings, passengers can be heard describing what happened. "We were attacked and are guarding the pilot," one person said. Another stated: "They tried to murder the pilot. We subdued the attacker." A third passenger pointed to the bound man and identified him as the one who had stabbed the captain.

A separate video captured someone saying: "We're here during the hijacking of an airplane. We've subdued the terrorists and we're approaching landing. Whoever is hearing me, we need help."

As the plane neared Tabuk, a passenger was heard saying: "We're landing in Tabuk, apparently in Saudi Arabia. An unknown, unfamiliar area. On the plane, everybody is safe and sound, other than the pilot. We need help."

Government Response

The Israeli Air Force scrambled fighter jets toward the aircraft as soon as the emergency became apparent, prompting alarm among senior officials in Tel Aviv. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz convened an emergency meeting and ordered a full assessment of the situation.

Israeli officials were reported to be in contact with Saudi authorities to arrange the return of the stranded passengers from Tabuk.