A Flydubai passenger plane operating flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a fight broke out between two pilots in the cockpit. According to Israeli broadcaster N12, the aircraft commander was of Russian origin, while the co-pilot was Ukrainian.
This was reported by N12 and The Times of Israel.
During the flight, the crew first transmitted squawk code 7700, which indicates a general emergency, and a few minutes later code 7500, which is used to signal unlawful interference or a possible hijacking.
This caused serious alarm in Israel. The Air Force scrambled fighter jets, while the prime minister and defense minister held emergency consultations.
It later emerged that the aircraft had not been hijacked. Reuters, citing an Israeli official, confirmed that the emergency signals were transmitted after a physical altercation between the two pilots.
According to N12, the pilots fought each other directly in the cockpit, and one of them lost consciousness as a result of the altercation. The broadcaster also reported that the captain was of Russian origin and the co-pilot was Ukrainian. However, there is currently no official independent confirmation of their citizenship.
The plane changed course and headed to Saudi Arabia. It landed safely at Tabuk airport in the northwest of the country. The Times of Israel also reported that Israeli security services ruled out the possibility of a hijacking.
According to N12, fighter jets escorted the aircraft before landing, and after it touched down, Saudi law enforcement officers removed both pilots from the plane. Passengers were instructed to remain in their seats.
Flydubai management informed the Israeli side that another aircraft would be sent from Dubai to Saudi Arabia to pick up the passengers and take them to Israel.
The reasons for the conflict between the pilots have not yet been reported.
