Flydubai flight FZ 1073, bound for Tel Aviv from Dubai with 150 people aboard, dropped thousands of feet in seconds after a cockpit assault and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Key facts
- Flydubai flight FZ 1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 150 passengers.
- The aircraft dropped roughly 5,000 metres (about 17,000 feet) in seconds before an emergency landing.
- The flight landed in Saudi Arabia instead of its scheduled destination of Ben Gurion airport.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pilot who stabbed the co-pilot may have tried to crash the plane.
- Photos suggested a large part of the aircraft's tail was missing.
Flydubai flight FZ 1073, a morning service from Dubai to Tel Aviv, became the scene of what the Guardian described as a horrific cockpit assault and a daring rescue, with 150 passengers aboard. The flight, usually a convenient and reliable daily route for the low-cost airline, never reached its scheduled destination.
The nonstop journey typically takes about three and a half hours and departs early enough from Dubai to land at Ben Gurion airport at around 9am local time, according to the Guardian. Passengers may initially have been frustrated only by a 20-minute delay at takeoff.
Instead, the aircraft dropped thousands of feet in seconds. The Guardian reported the plane plunged roughly 5,000 metres, equivalent to about 17,000 feet, before limping down to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
The outcome was described as perhaps miraculous, as photos suggested a large part of the tail of the aircraft was missing. The jet did not complete its route to Tel Aviv.
According to the Guardian, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pilot who stabbed the co-pilot on the Israel-bound plane may have tried to crash it. The incident unfolded as the flight soared west over the waters of the Gulf towards Israel.
The emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, rather than at the flight’s intended arrival at Ben Gurion airport, brought the catastrophic journey to an end.
Why it matters
A mid-air cockpit assault on a commercial passenger flight raises serious questions about crew safety and aviation security on busy regional routes. That 150 passengers survived a plunge of thousands of feet underscores both the severity of the event and the significance of the emergency landing.
Frequently asked questions
What happened on flydubai flight FZ 1073?
According to the Guardian, the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv experienced a cockpit assault and dropped thousands of feet in seconds before making an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Photos suggested a large part of the aircraft's tail was missing.
How many people were on board?
The Guardian reported that 150 passengers were aboard the morning service from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
What did Israeli officials say about the cause?
The Guardian reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pilot who stabbed the co-pilot may have tried to crash the plane.