Tel Aviv Flydubai flight: Injured pilots admitted to hospital, details of incident not revealed
A Flydubai flight en route Tel Aviv from Dubai that made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia after it signaled emergency as an altercation was reported between the pilots aboard the flight, according to media house reports.
In its first official statement, the Prime Minister’s office dismissing hijacking claims, a spokesperson said, “The situation is under control and all measures are currently being taken to bring the Israeli passengers back to Israel safely.”
Israeli officials, on grounds of anonymity, said the co-pilot of the Flydubai FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv is believed to have stabbed the captain in a possible attempt to terror attack on Wednesday, forcing the plane to divert to Saudi Arabia where it landed safely.
According to media reports, the injured co-pilot and the first officer have been admitted to hospital after sustaining injuries. No details of how the pilots were injured has been revealed yet.
Meanwhile, videos filmed by passengers aboard Flydubai flight have emerged showing the aftermath of a violent incident in the cockpit that forced the flight to divert to Saudi Arabia. In one video, a bloodied passenger speaks directly into the camera of the aircraft as the aircraft approaches the book in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
“We’re here during the hijacking of an airplane. At this point we’ve subdued the terrorists, we’re approaching landing. Whoever is hearing me, we need help,” the passenger says.
He then says the plane is landing in “Tabuk, apparently in Saudi Arabia”, describing it as an unfamiliar place. He says the passengers are safe “other than the pilot” and again asks for help.
After hijack scare, another Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, FZ1081, has been diverted and is heading back to Dubai, according to media reports.
As per the timeline of the flight, the Flydubai aircraft departed from Dubai International Airport at 3:05. The squawk changed to 7700 which mean general emergency at 5:31 a.m. in the morning. Minutes later, it changed to 7500, Which means Unlawful interference, the signal for a a possible hijack. As per the flight tracking data, the aircraft was near Jordan.
Making a 180-degree turn towards Tabuk, the aircraft briefly entered the Jordanian airspace and returned to 7700. The Israeli government immediately scrambled fighter jets amid fears of hijacking, and PM Netanyahu held an emergency security meeting. About 7:00 GMT, the aircraft safely landed at Tabuk.