Flydubai Investigates Flight-Deck Altercation After Emergency Descent

Flydubai has opened a formal investigation into an altercation in the flight deck of flight FZ 1073, an incident that led to an emergency alert and an abrupt descent of thousands of feet while the aircraft was travelling to Israel.

The episode prompted Israeli authorities to scramble warplanes amid concerns that the aircraft could have been hijacked. The possible hijacking was not confirmed, and the circumstances surrounding the alert and descent remained unclear.

In a statement, a Flydubai spokesperson said the reasons and motives behind the cockpit incident were not known.

“At this early stage, the underlying reasons and motives behind this event are unknown and remain subject to a formal investigation. We urge all parties to refrain from premature speculation while authorities gather the facts,”

the spokesperson said.

Video shows injured men

Video footage reviewed by The Associated Press appeared to show two bloodied and wounded men lying on the aircraft floor. Two people appeared to be giving medical treatment, while two others appeared to be guarding the cockpit.

An unidentified person speaking in Hebrew could be heard saying, “We are guarding the pilot.” The footage was reviewed by the Associated Press, which did not establish the full circumstances shown in the video.

Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, said the captain and first officer had been injured. The statement was carried by Saudi state-run Alekhbariya television.

A regional official, speaking anonymously because they were not authorised to brief the media, said passengers received medical attention from local authorities.

Reported arrest

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said passengers and crew members who intervened had “saved many lives and prevented a major disaster.”

Netanyahu also said Saudi Arabia had arrested a pilot in connection with the incident. The pilot’s identity was not immediately disclosed, and Saudi Arabian authorities had no immediate comment on the reported arrest.

The account emerged as Netanyahu had warned in recent days of unspecified heightened security threats. Israel was also approaching the anniversary of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack, which triggered a series of wars, according to background information cited in the report.

Flydubai has urged against speculation while authorities continue gathering information. The airline has not publicly established what caused the altercation, who was involved beyond the injured flight crew, or whether the incident was connected to a hijacking attempt.