Staff reporter
LONDON: Passengers and airline crew have been credited with preventing a potential aviation disaster after a flydubai aircraft travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia following a violent incident in the cockpit.
Flight FZ1073, carrying 174 people, including a large number of Israeli passengers, was approaching Israel on Wednesday, September 30, when an alleged confrontation between the two pilots developed into a life-threatening emergency.
According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one pilot stabbed the other and apparently attempted to bring down the Boeing 737 aircraft.
Passengers reported that the plane suddenly began shaking violently and plunged thousands of feet, prompting fears that it was out of control. Flight-tracking information indicated that the aircraft descended from approximately 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet within a minute. In a remarkable intervention, several passengers, assisted by off-duty airline crew members travelling on board, managed to enter the cockpit and overpower the suspected attacker. One passenger reportedly restrained the alleged assailant while others helped regain control of the aircraft. The injured pilot and another crew member were subsequently taken to hospital. The aircraft transmitted emergency signals before diverting to Tabuk Airport in north-western Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. All passengers were accounted for.
Netanyahu praised the courage of those who intervened, saying their actions had helped prevent a major catastrophe. Saudi authorities detained the suspected attacker for questioning.
The motive behind the incident remains under investigation. Israeli officials have raised the possibility of a deliberate terrorist attack, but Netanyahu has cautioned against drawing conclusions about who might have been responsible.
Flydubai confirmed that an altercation had taken place in the flight deck and said the aircraft had been secured by airline crew members travelling on the flight.
The airline subsequently announced the suspension of flights to and from Israel while investigations continue. Replacement aircraft were also dispatched to Saudi Arabia to assist passengers and crew.
The incident has raised fresh questions about cockpit security, pilot safety and the procedures designed to prevent unauthorised interference with commercial aircraft.
For the 174 people aboard flight FZ1073, however, the immediate outcome was one of relief: what could have become a devastating air disaster ended with everyone surviving.
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