Flydubai flight diverted to Saudi Arabia after cockpit altercation

A flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted and landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after an altercation inside the cockpit, the airline said. Flydubai described the incident aboard flight FZ 1073 as “an altercation” and said the underlying reasons and motives were unknown pending a formal investigation. The airline said on-duty flydubai crew members travelling on the aircraft secured the plane, diverted it and completed a safe landing.

It added that all passengers and crew were safe and accounted for. Passenger Miryam Shira Ohayon gave a different account of the incident to reporters. She alleged that one pilot attacked the other and attempted to crash the aircraft, saying passengers intervened and took control of the assailant.

Ohayon said the aircraft was “pretty much out of control” during the incident, which she said occurred over Jordan. She also said a doctor provided first aid and passengers treated those involved. According to her account, the pilot was injured, while other passengers were not hurt.

A video reposted by Israeli social media users showed a passenger with blood on his head asking for assistance and saying the aircraft was preparing to land in Tabuk. The authenticity and circumstances of the video were not independently established in the supplied material. The incident occurred as the aircraft was travelling towards Israel.

Passenger accounts said additional pilots took charge and diverted the plane. Flydubai did not confirm the identity of the injured pilot, and formal investigations are expected to determine what happened and why.