Flydubai Flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv Diverts to Saudi Arabia After On‑board Attack
A Flydubai Boeing 737 operating Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to land in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an incident while the aircraft was approaching Israel. The plane was fully occupied with Israeli citizens and landed safely, according to German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who discussed the matter with his Israeli counterpart.1,2
Investigators say the co‑pilot allegedly attacked the captain, causing a rapid double‑dive that dropped the aircraft about 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds. The injured captain unlocked the cockpit door and passengers restrained the alleged attacker, while a reserve crew on board took control and completed the emergency landing. The event is being compared to the Germanwings 4U9525 crash and has prompted scrutiny of pilot and security‑personnel reliability checks.2