A hijacking – or rather, a dispute between pilots. What do we know about the FlyDubai flight?

"The situation is under control and all necessary measures are being taken to bring the Israeli passengers back to Israel safely." These reassurances from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu come after hours of uncertainty, tension and eyes constantly fixed on the sky. During the morning in Italy, Israeli media reported that a Flydubai scheduled flight (FZ 1073), en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv with around 180 people on board, had first transmitted the transponder code 7700 – indicating an emergency – and shortly afterwards 7500, used to signal a possible hijacking or act of unlawful interference. The aircraft also lowered its altitude and altered its course, heading towards Saudi Arabia instead of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport. Israeli security procedures were therefore triggered, and two Israeli Air Force fighter jets were scrambled.

Shortly afterwards, Israeli media reported that the flight had landed at Tabuk Airport, in north-western Saudi Arabia. But it is the cause of the incident that has aroused the most curiosity. According to Israeli security sources, the emergency signals were not triggered by a hijacking but by an altercation on board the flight. The airline is also said to have confirmed this version of events. According to reports by the Israeli broadcaster Channel 12, FlyDubai has in fact announced that “the pilots were involved in a scuffle in the cockpit during the flight, until one of them lost consciousness. This was not a safety incident”. 

According to reports from the liveblog of the Israeli newspaper The Times of Israel, one of the pilots on the FlyDubai flight allegedly attempted to crash the aircraft before being stopped by the other pilot with the help of some passengers. However, these are unconfirmed rumours, albeit widely reported by the Israeli media on the basis of testimonies gathered from those on board. Initial reports suggested that one of the pilots was of Russian origin and the co-pilot of Ukrainian origin. According to the Israeli newspaper Ynet, however, the pilot who allegedly attempted to crash the plane is an Omani national, whilst the other is from the UAE.

“We heard screams on the plane. Then they opened the cockpit and we saw blood,” a passenger told the Israeli broadcaster Channel 12. According to her, one of the pilots was stabbed with a small knife and some Israeli passengers helped the crew to subdue an attacker. Another witness reported that one of the pilots was seriously injured and that, at that moment, the aircraft began a rapid descent. 

Israeli media are reporting that the Mossad and Shin Bet are involved in the investigation into the incident on the FlyDubai flight. The passengers, who are currently at Tabuk Airport, will be questioned upon their arrival in Israel. According to reports, Israel is finalising the necessary arrangements to allow Israeli aircraft to land in Saudi Arabia, given that the two countries do not have diplomatic relations. Transport Minister Miri Regev has called for the suspension of FlyDubai flights to Israel pending the investigation into the incident involving the aircraft bound for Tel Aviv. This has also been reported by the Israeli media, which state that the minister has also asked the Civil Aviation Authority to check whether the United Arab Emirates has breached the agreement with Israel, under which only pilots holding passports from countries with which Israel maintains diplomatic relations are authorised to land in Israel. This comes in light of rumours that the co-pilot involved in the assault is an Omani national. 

A few figures help to better understand the dynamics of the flight. Tracking data cited by the Times of Israel show that the aircraft suddenly descended from an altitude of around 10 kilometres to 5 kilometres in less than a minute, whilst simultaneously accelerating from 411 to nearly 600 knots. After a brief climb to around 6.5 kilometres, it descended again to below 4.5 kilometres. The aircraft subsequently re-established communications and landed at Tabuk Airport. While efforts are underway to clarify the incident, the first photograph taken aboard the aircraft has been circulating in Israeli media and on social media, showing a passenger with a bloodstained shirt. According to the Israeli media outlet Ynet, the man reportedly intervened to separate the pilot and co-pilot during the brawl that broke out in the cockpit.