Flydubai Confirms Cockpit Altercation after Pilot Allegedly Stabbed Fellow Pilot Mid-Flight 

Flydubai has confirmed that an altercation took place in the cockpit of a flight traveling from Dubai to Israel, forcing the aircraft to divert and land safely in Saudi Arabia.

Flight FZ1073 was operating from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, September 30, when the incident occurred.

In a statement on December 30, 2026, the airline said the aircraft was secured by Flydubai crew members who were traveling on the flight before it was diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.

An altercation occurred in the flight deck of flight FZ 1073. All passengers and crew are safe and accounted for.

The airline said it had deployed two replacement aircraft to Tabuk to transport the affected passengers and crew onward.

Flydubai added that the incident had no impact on other scheduled flights across its network.

What happened inside the Flydubai cockpit?

Details surrounding the incident remain under investigation.

Israeli officials said a co-pilot attacked the pilot with a knife and attempted to take control of the aircraft, prompting the plane to enter a rapid descent.

According to Reuters, passengers, assisted by a crew member, entered the cockpit and helped subdue the person involved.

A second set of pilots subsequently took control of the aircraft, which was diverted to Tabuk and landed safely.

Flydubai has not publicly confirmed the alleged motive behind the altercation.

The airline said the “underlying reasons and motives” were unknown at this stage and urged people to avoid premature speculation while authorities investigate.

 Passenger’s mother describes chaotic scene

Yasmin Abukasis, whose daughter was among the passengers, described the frightening moments aboard the aircraft in an interview with the BBC.

According to Abukasis, the plane appeared to lose control, causing passengers to scream.

She said two other pilots eventually took control, while one person was reportedly restrained on the floor after a knife was involved.

There was a lot of blood around.

Flight lands safely in Saudi Arabia

Despite the incident, the aircraft was successfully diverted and landed at Tabuk Airport.

Reuters reported that more than 170 Israeli passengers were aboard the flight and that passengers were not harmed. Both pilots were reported to have been injured and hospitalized.

The aircraft had originally been traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

The incident prompted heightened attention because of the flight’s destination and the circumstances inside the cockpit.

The airline said its immediate priority was the safety and well-being of everyone involved.

“Our immediate priority is to ensure the ongoing safety, health, and well-being of all passengers and crew members involved in this incident and support the official investigation.”