Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv diverted to Tabuk after cockpit attack

A Flydubai Boeing 737‑MAX operating from Dubai to Tel Aviv transmitted an unlawful‑interference code and was forced to descend sharply before landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The incident injured the captain and copilot, leading Flydubai to suspend all flights to and from Israel.

Flight FZ1073 changed its transponder from the general emergency code 7700 at 05:31 UTC to the unlawful‑interference code 7500 at 05:38 UTC. The aircraft dropped from 30,875 ft to 16,750 ft in 29 seconds after one pilot attacked the other. Passengers and crew subdued the attacking pilot and two off‑duty pilots took control, allowing the plane to land safely at Tabuk Airport. The captain and copilot were injured and taken to hospital. Flydubai suspended all flights to and from Israel following the incident. Flydubai deployed two replacement aircraft to Tabuk to assist passengers and crew. The suspension of Israel‑bound services removes a revenue stream and disrupts the airline’s schedule and slot allocations. The incident may affect airline distribution partners’ inventory and booking systems for the affected routes.