What We Know About the Dubai-Israel Plane Incident After Reported Stabbing
A Flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv Diverts to Saudi Arabia
A flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was unexpectedly diverted to Saudi Arabia after a pilot was reportedly stabbed, according to Israeli officials. The Flydubai plane, which took off early on Wednesday morning, signalled an emergency alert two hours into the flight.
Flight Details:
- Flight Number: FZ1073
- Origin: Dubai International Airport, United Arab Emirates
- Destination: Ben-Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Time of Departure: 03:05 UTC (04:05 BST) on Wednesday
- Number of Passengers: Approximately 150, mostly Israeli
Incident Timeline:
- 05:21: Rapid descent of the plane over Saudi Arabia.
- 05:21 - 05:40: Descent continued, with the plane switching emergency codes from squawk 7700 (hijacking) to 7500 (hijacking/emergency).
- 05:40: The plane looped back into Saudi Arabia.
- 06:58: Touchdown at Tabuk Airport, northeastern Saudi Arabia.
Reports of a Stabbing:
Local media and passengers have reported that one pilot was stabbed by another. Initial reports suggested a fight between the pilots, but subsequent accounts indicated a stabbing incident. The injured captain and first officer were taken to hospital upon landing.
Passenger Accounts:
Passengers have shared their experiences with various media outlets, describing scenes of fear and blood on board. Yasmin Abukasis's daughter, who was on the flight, reported seeing a man holding a knife force one pilot onto another.
Key Takeaways:
- Flydubai confirmed all passengers are safe and accounted for.
- The plane's sudden descent and emergency codes were notable indicators of an unexpected incident.
- Local and passenger accounts suggest a stabbing occurred in the cockpit, leading to the diversion.