Indian-origin pilot stops alleged cockpit takeover on Flydubai flight

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Captain reportedly fought off Omani co-pilot after cockpit confrontation

An Indian-origin pilot reportedly helped prevent a potential disaster aboard a Flydubai passenger flight after his co-pilot allegedly attacked him and attempted to take control of the aircraft, forcing the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

The incident occurred aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 100 passengers on board. The aircraft transmitted emergency signals before diverting to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.

According to reports carried by Indian media citing Israeli sources, the captain was of Indian origin while the co-pilot was an Omani national. The captain reportedly confronted the co-pilot after the latter allegedly attempted to take control of the aircraft and crash it.

The identities and nationalities of the pilots have not been independently confirmed by Flydubai or Saudi authorities. Reuters also reported conflicting accounts about the pilots’ nationalities.

The flight was travelling towards Tel Aviv when the pilots became involved in a physical confrontation.

Reuters reported that the aircraft first transmitted a general emergency signal before sending a second signal indicating possible unlawful interference. Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft subsequently made a rapid descent before diverting towards Saudi Arabia.

Israeli officials later told Reuters that the co-pilot was believed to have stabbed the captain and that cabin crew entered the cockpit and took control of the situation.

Passenger accounts published by Israeli media described screaming and violence inside the cockpit. One passenger’s family member told AFP that the passenger had seen blood after one pilot was allegedly attacked with a knife.

Indian media reports, citing Israeli outlet Channel 12 and other Israeli sources, said the captain was of Indian origin and fought with his Omani co-pilot after the alleged attack.

The Tribune, citing Ynet, reported that the Indian captain fought to prevent the co-pilot from taking control of the aircraft and that Israeli passengers later helped subdue the co-pilot.

The Times of Israel separately reported that passengers who were pilots travelling in civilian clothes were said to have helped prevent one of the pilots from taking over the aircraft, although it stressed that the account was not confirmed.

Because accounts of the incident remain inconsistent, it has not been independently established exactly who controlled the aircraft at each stage of the confrontation.

As the situation unfolded, FZ1073 diverted from its planned route and headed towards Tabuk.

The aircraft transmitted the international 7700 general-emergency signal and later briefly transmitted 7500, a code indicating unlawful interference, according to flight-tracking data cited by Reuters. The plane subsequently returned to the general-emergency code before landing at Tabuk.

Saudi airport authorities said both pilots were injured and taken to hospital. Flydubai said the aircraft had experienced an incident and landed safely, with all passengers accounted for.

Israeli officials initially said the incident was not believed to be a conventional hijacking. Later, three Israeli officials told Reuters that authorities were investigating it as a possible attempted terror attack.

Reuters said conflicting reports had emerged over the pilots’ identities and motives, with some Israeli media reports suggesting different nationalities and theories about what happened inside the cockpit. Authorities had not publicly established a motive at the time of the report.

The aircraft’s rapid descent and the cockpit confrontation prompted a major security response in Israel, with Israeli authorities holding security consultations after the emergency signals were detected.

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