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Flydubai flight emergency and diversion after pilot clash

18 stories3548 sourcesUpdated Oct 9, 2026

In this storyline:flydubai Benjamin Netanyahu State of Israel Australia Israeli Defense Forces Yamam Saudi Arabia The United Arab Emirates

Flydubai flight emergency and diversion after pilot clash — Photo: Konstantin von Wedelstaedt / Wikimedia Commons (GFDL 1.2)

Key developments

Sep 30, 2026
Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv transmitted hijack code 7500 after pilots clashed, with 174 passengers landing safely in Tabuk.
65 sources on this →
Sep 30, 2026
Flydubai 737 Max 8 with 174 passengers hit code 7700 and diverted to Tabuk after pilot altercation; Israel scrambled jets.
162 sources on this →
Oct 9, 2026
UAE prosecutors say a Flydubai co-pilot tried to seize flight FZ1073 and crash it into Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, but the captain, crew and passengers intervened.
181 sources on this →

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Stories in this storyline

World

UAE prosecutors say Omani co-pilot tried to crash Flydubai jet into Tel Aviv

UAE prosecutors say a Flydubai co-pilot tried to seize flight FZ1073 and crash it into Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, but the captain, crew and passengers intervened and the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia. Separate media reports allege he had considered an earlier attempt and raise questions about whether warnings about his radicalization and screening failures were addressed; investigations are continuing.

181 sources

World

Counterterrorism Probe Examines Co-Pilot’s Australia Ties

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Saudi Arabia Opens Probe Into Flydubai Cockpit Stabbing

Saudi Arabia opened a safety probe into a Sept. 30 flydubai cockpit attack that forced an emergency landing with 172 aboard; Israel says it was never invited to join.

6 sources

World

Flydubai Co-Pilot Allegedly Stabs Captain, Flight Diverts

A Flydubai co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain on a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight, sending the jet into a steep dive before passengers and crew overpowered him and landed in Saudi Arabia.

575 sources

World

Israel Faces Scrutiny Over Foreign Pilot Checks

Israel will tighten security checks and verify the identities of pilots flying into the country after a Flydubai co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and tried to crash a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight, which passengers and crew helped bring to a safe landing in Saudi Arabia. Flydubai has cautioned against premature conclusions as the incident is investigated.

67 sources

World

Flydubai Co-Pilot Identified After Cockpit Axe Attack

An Omani co-pilot allegedly stabbed the Indian captain of a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, forcing a dangerous descent and emergency landing in Saudi Arabia; passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot and helped stabilize the aircraft. The captain was reported stable and flown to Dubai for further treatment as authorities investigate the motive, with multiple possibilities still under consideration.

677 sources

World

UAE Calls Flydubai Cockpit Attack Attempted Terrorism

After a co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain aboard a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight and the aircraft plunged, early reports described the episode as a fight or altercation. The wording drew criticism from Israeli officials and others, who said it understated an apparent hijacking or attempted attack, while the circumstances and motive remained under investigation.

340 sources

World

Saudi Arabia Arrests Suspect After Flydubai Cockpit Stabbing on Tel Aviv Flight

Authorities are investigating after a Flydubai first officer allegedly attacked the captain and tried to seize control of an Israel-bound flight, which made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Israeli officials have called the incident a radical terrorist attack aimed at regional cooperation, while investigators have not established a motive and are examining possible terror links; President Donald Trump has also raised a possible connection to Iran.

465 sources

World

Trump Says Iran May Be Linked to FlyDubai Stabbing

49 sources

World

Flydubai Flight To Tel Aviv Declares Emergency And Diverts To Saudi Arabia

71 sources

World

Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv diverts to Saudi Arabia after pilot altercation

A Flydubai 737 Max 8 with 174 passengers, including 100 Israeli nationals, hit code 7700 and diverted to Tabuk; Israel scrambled two jets.

162 sources

World

Flydubai Captain Stabbed in Attempted Cockpit Takeover

36 sources

World

Co-Pilot Allegedly Stabs Flydubai Captain, Plane Lands Safely

Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar, stabbed in the cockpit on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, opened the door after the jet plunged nearly 14,000 feet; all 174 aboard survived.

88 sources

World

Flydubai Flight Diverts to Saudi Arabia After Cockpit Stabbing

Flydubai FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Tabuk after a cockpit stabbing; the jet plunged as much as 18,000 feet before other pilots landed it safely.

155 sources

World

Israel Probes Flydubai Cockpit Incident for Possible Terror Motive

Flydubai FZ1073 landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on Sept. 30 after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain; Amit Segal says Israel is treating it as a full-fledged terrorist attack.

288 sources

World

Israel-bound flight issues hijacking alert after cockpit incident

A Flydubai Dubai–Tel Aviv flight issued a hijacking alert after the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain; passengers and crew regained control and landed in Saudi Arabia as Israel scrambled jets.

34 sources

World

Flydubai Flight Diverts to Saudi Arabia After Pilot Altercation

Flydubai FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Tabuk after a cockpit incident left both pilots hospitalized; the jet dropped from nearly 34,000 to under 17,000 feet in about a minute before landing safely.

81 sources

World

Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv transmits hijack code after pilots clash

About 174 passengers, including 27 children, landed safely in Tabuk after Flydubai's Tel Aviv flight squawked hijack code 7500; officials blamed a pilots' fight.

65 sources