FlyDubai Airlines has suspended all its flights to and from Israel due to an attack by one pilot on another during a flight to Tel Aviv. The incident during the flight caused the aircraft to suddenly drop to a lower altitude and make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Incident Details
Flight FZ 1073 was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday morning local time when it suddenly dropped nearly two hours into the flight. According to Flightradar24 data, the aircraft descended more than 15,000 feet in two minutes, then sharply ascended and fell again. Crew members and passengers were able to subdue the second pilot who had compromised the flight upon entering the cockpit.
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Status of Passengers and Injured Pilot
Ultimately, a pair of other FlyDubai pilots on board were able to safely land the aircraft in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. All passengers were transferred to Tel Aviv on replacement flights and arrived safely at their destination. The injured pilot, Captain Smith Machchar, is recognized as a hero and is hospitalized in stable condition in a Saudi hospital.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, stated in a video message that the attacker appeared to have tried to bring the plane down with its passengers. He also added that nearly all passengers on the flight were Israeli.
The United Arab Emirates has had diplomatic relations with Israel since 2020, and reports indicate that the country warned Israel about an imminent Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
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