TABUK, Saudi Arabia — A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. The Boeing 737 carried 174 passengers. It landed at Tabuk Airport after the copilot stabbed the pilot in the cockpit.
The incident triggered the scramble of fighter jets as it posed a security risk. The aircraft transmitted squawk code 7700. That code signals a general emergency. Minutes later, it sent code 7500. That code warns of unlawful interference or hijacking.
Flight tracking showed a sudden drop in altitude. The plane dropped thousands of feet in minutes. It circled erratically near the border of Jordan.
Israeli Defense Forces scrambled their fighter jets. Authorities feared terrorists had hijacked the aircraft. Israeli media said around 100 Israeli citizens were on board.
Reports from Tel Aviv media provided dramatic accounts. News outlet i24NEWS interviewed passengers who witnessed the chaos. Passenger Miriam Ohayon spoke to i24NEWS about the horror. She recalled hearing loud screams in the cabin.
“We just heard screams, and then the cockpit door opened and we saw a huge amount of blood,” Ohayon told i24NEWS.
Her mother, Yasmin, waited at Ben Gurion Airport. She spoke about the panic among the passengers. She said people believed they would die.
“The pilot was stabbed, we saw blood, we thought we wouldn’t make it out alive,” passenger testimonies on i24NEWS stated.
Passengers and off-duty crew members intervened. They subdued an attacking pilot inside the cabin. Medical professionals on board stepped in immediately. A doctor and a nurse treated the injured pilot.
Two reserve pilots in civilian clothes were on the flight. They entered the cockpit and assumed control. They safely navigated the Boeing 737 to Tabuk Airport.
Saudi authorities dispatched emergency responders to the runway. Ambulances transported the injured pilots to a local hospital. All passengers remained safe and unharmed.
The airline acknowledged the diversion shortly after landing.
“Our teams are working closely with the relevant authorities,” Flydubai said in a press release. “Further updates will be issued as additional confirmed details become available,” the statement added.
Government officials in Jerusalem closely monitored the crisis. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an urgent security meeting. Officials assured the public that all passengers were secure.
“The situation is under control,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. “All measures are currently being taken to bring the Israeli passengers back to Israel safely,” the office added.
The incident highlights rare operational hazards in aviation. International aviation bodies opened an investigation. Officials are examining pilot background records. They are also reviewing flight data recorders.
Diplomats are coordinating the return of all passengers. Special arrangements are underway to fly the passengers from Saudi Arabia to Israel. Further updates from airline representatives remain pending.