An Israel-bound passenger flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia Wednesday after a violent confrontation inside the cockpit sent the aircraft into a sudden descent and raised fears of an attempted terror attack.
Flydubai Flight FZ1073 was traveling from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv when the emergency unfolded aboard the Boeing 737 MAX 8. The aircraft had been cruising at approximately 34,000 feet before rapidly losing altitude and ultimately diverting to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft transmitted both a general emergency code and a code indicating unlawful interference.
According to the California Post, citing Israeli sources and passenger accounts, the co-pilot allegedly attacked the other pilot with a knife and attempted to take control of the aircraft.
“One pilot stabbed the other and tried to do 9/11,” an official told Israel’s Channel 12, according to the California Post.
Passengers described terrifying moments as the aircraft descended and a struggle unfolded near the cockpit.
“We were either going to crash or be murdered,” one passenger told I24 News, according to the California Post. “It was like a terrorist attack in mid-air.”
The Jerusalem Post reported that passengers intervened after the cockpit door opened during the struggle. One passenger said people seated near the front rushed toward the confrontation and helped bring the situation under control. The outlet cautioned that portions of the detailed passenger account had not been independently verified.
Two off-duty pilots traveling aboard the flight reportedly helped take control of the aircraft after the confrontation, according to passenger accounts cited by the California Post.
Flight data confirms the aircraft experienced a dramatic loss of altitude. AeroInside reported that the jet descended from approximately 34,000 feet to about 19,000 feet in roughly 90 seconds before leveling near 15,000 feet and diverting to Tabuk.
The incident initially triggered fears of a hijacking. Israeli fighter jets were scrambled after the aircraft transmitted the international transponder code used to signal unlawful interference, according to multiple reports.
Flydubai confirmed that an incident occurred aboard the flight and that the aircraft landed safely.
“Our teams are working closely with the relevant authorities,” the airline said, according to the California Post. “Further updates will be issued as additional confirmed details become available.”
All passengers were reported safe and accounted for after the landing. Reuters reported that Saudi authorities detained the co-pilot while authorities investigated the circumstances surrounding the attack. Israeli officials described the incident as a deliberate act of terror, although the investigation remained underway Wednesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said passengers helped overcome the co-pilot after he allegedly attempted to crash the aircraft. His office said authorities were working to safely return the Israeli passengers home.
For Catholics, the extraordinary survival of those aboard offers a sobering reminder of the fragility of human life and the courage ordinary people can show when others are in danger. As investigators work to establish exactly what happened and why, prayers are appropriate for the injured, the passengers and crew who endured the terrifying ordeal, and all those responsible for protecting travelers from violence.
The aircraft’s safe landing prevented what could have become a devastating loss of life. The full circumstances of the cockpit attack, including its motive, remain under investigation.
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Praying for you Israel ❤️🥰🇮🇱