Flydubai Pilot Under Probe, Hijack, Crash Or '9/11-Style Attack' Suspected, Say Israeli Officials

A senior Israeli official said “the most severe disaster was prevented” on the flight from the UAE to Israel that made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia

One of the pilots of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv is now at the centre of growing suspicions, Israeli media reported on Wednesday, after a violent cockpit confrontation forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, with Israeli authorities investigating whether there was an attempt to take control of the plane.

The Boeing 737, operating as Flydubai flight FZ1073, diverted to Tabuk on Wednesday after emergency signals were transmitted during the flight. The aircraft landed safely and all passengers were reported safe. Israeli officials initially feared a possible hijacking, although the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office later said the incident was not believed to be a hijacking.

The latest information, however, has put the actions and intentions of one of the pilots under renewed scrutiny.

An Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that it is still unclear what the pilot was trying to do. “Whether he intended to hijack the plane and divert it to Israel, crash it, or carry out a 9/11-style attack. What is clear is that he wanted to hijack the aircraft."

An Israeli source said the identity of the pilot who carried out the stabbing was still being investigated, including whether the pilot was from the Middle East.

Meanwhile, a senior Israeli official told Channel 12 that “the most severe disaster was prevented" on the flight from the UAE to Israel that made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. According to the unnamed official, the copilot is being investigated amid growing indications that he tried to take over the plane in order to crash it.

The latest claims come after passengers reported hearing screams and witnessing a violent struggle near the cockpit. One passenger’s account also indicated that a knife was involved and that there was blood inside the aircraft.

The aircraft had transmitted a general emergency signal and later another signal indicating possible unlawful interference before eventually landing in Tabuk. The emergency transmissions had prompted Israel to scramble fighter jets amid initial fears that the aircraft had been hijacked.

Flydubai has confirmed that the aircraft experienced an “incident" while en route to Tel Aviv and diverted to Tabuk, where it landed safely. The airline has said all passengers were safe and accounted for and that it was working with the relevant authorities.

The precise sequence of events inside the cockpit, including who initiated the confrontation and what the pilot’s intentions were, remains under investigation.