New details help better understand what happened on board Flydubai flight FZ1073, connecting Dubai to Tel Aviv, this Wednesday the 30th. After participating in the neutralization of the co-pilot suspected of attempting to crash the aircraft, an Israeli passenger recounted his intervention to Benjamin Netanyahu.
The incident occurred while the Boeing 737 MAX was carrying many Israeli passengers to Ben Gurion Airport. According to Israeli authorities, the co-pilot, an Omani national, allegedly stabbed the captain before attempting to crash the aircraft. Passengers and crew members then managed to enter the cockpit and subdue the man. The motive remains to be established as part of the investigation.
This case follows initial reports on the diversion of the Dubai–Tel Aviv flight to Saudi Arabia and revelations concerning the alleged attack on the captain by the co-pilot.
« I Pulled the Control Stick to Level the Plane »
After returning to Israel, one of the passengers involved in the intervention met with Benjamin Netanyahu. In a video shared on social media, he recounts helping to regain control while the plane was in an extremely rapid descent: « I pulled the control stick to level the plane and stop the dive. Fortunately, I had some aviation knowledge thanks to the series Mayday: Air Crash. »
A Plunge Mid-Flight
The aircraft abruptly lost several thousand meters of altitude during the incident. Flight FZ1073 had taken off from Dubai in the morning and was heading to Tel Aviv before being diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Emergency signals were transmitted during the flight. Authorities at Tabuk airport reported receiving an emergency landing request at 8:44 a.m. local time. The plane ultimately landed safely at 9:45 a.m.
The Captain and Co-Pilot Hospitalized
Both pilots were injured and taken to the hospital after landing. Passengers were cared for in the Tabuk airport terminal. No passengers were killed.
Flydubai stated that the aircraft was secured by crew members traveling on board who participated in the diversion and landing in Saudi Arabia. An investigation will now determine the exact sequence of events and the co-pilot’s motivations.
Passengers were then able to continue their journey aboard a replacement plane, which departed Tabuk Wednesday at 5:40 p.m.
Netanyahu Mentions Attempt to Crash the Plane
Benjamin Netanyahu states that the co-pilot sought to deliberately cause the crash after assaulting the captain. The Israeli Prime Minister praised those who managed to regain control of the situation.
Israeli authorities mention the possibility of a terrorist act. However, this classification is not established at this stage of the investigation. The United Arab Emirates aviation authorities officially describe it as a « security incident » and indicate that investigations continue to determine the causes and circumstances.
The passenger’s account received by Benjamin Netanyahu now adds a new dramatic element to this case: at the moment the Boeing was diving, people on board not only participated in neutralizing the co-pilot but also in efforts to stabilize the aircraft before its emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
