An Israeli spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to clarify reports surrounding an incident involving a Flydubai aircraft traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, confirming that the incident was not a hijacking and that the situation was under control.
The statement came after the aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following an incident that occurred on board during the flight. Israeli authorities said they were taking the necessary measures to ensure the safe return of the Israeli passengers.
Flydubai Reveals Details of the Incident
Flydubai said Flight FZ1073, operating from Dubai to Tel Aviv, experienced an incident while in flight, forcing the aircraft to divert to Tabuk. The airline confirmed that all passengers were safe and said further updates would be issued once verified information became available.
Tabuk Airport said it received a distress call from the aircraft at 8:44 a.m., prompting the airport to declare an emergency and raise its preparedness level.
Pilots Injured and Taken to Hospital
Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk said the aircraft made an emergency landing at 6:45 a.m. GMT and that the captain and co-pilot were injured and taken to hospital for medical treatment.
The airport said passengers were provided with the necessary assistance and that coordination with Flydubai was underway to arrange an alternative aircraft and continue their journey.
Israeli media had earlier reported a security incident on board after the aircraft issued a distress call and activated an emergency code. Initial reports referred to a violent confrontation between the pilots, while the possibility of a hijacking was later ruled out.
Passenger Accounts Raise New Questions
One passenger, Miriam Shira Ohayon, provided an account of the incident after arriving in Tel Aviv, saying the aircraft appeared to be almost out of control during the incident over Jordan.
She alleged that the co-pilot attacked the captain and that several passengers intervened and restrained him. A doctor on board reportedly provided first aid to those injured, with assistance from other passengers.
Another passenger, Almog Itali, described experiencing what felt like severe turbulence despite the absence of turbulent weather. He said the aircraft lost thousands of feet in altitude within seconds.
Netanyahu and Katz Describe the Incident as an Attack
The passenger accounts were followed by statements from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said one of the pilots had attempted to bring down the aircraft after attacking the other pilot.
Netanyahu said the aircraft entered a spin and began descending sharply before an Israeli passenger and a crew member entered the cockpit and intervened. He added that other members of the crew managed to stabilize the aircraft.
Netanyahu also said the pilot accused of carrying out the attack was being questioned by Saudi authorities.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack aimed at bringing down the aircraft with everyone on board. He said several Israeli passengers entered the cockpit and helped restrain the alleged attacker before control of the aircraft was restored.
Emergency Landing in Tabuk
Following the distress call, Tabuk Airport declared an emergency and prepared for the aircraft’s landing.
The airport said the captain and co-pilot were injured and transferred to hospital, while passengers received the necessary assistance.
Flydubai subsequently arranged an alternative aircraft to transport the passengers to their destination. The airport later confirmed that all passengers had departed for Tel Aviv at 5:40 p.m., in accordance with Saudi civil aviation regulations and applicable international agreements.
Reports also indicated that Saudi Arabia had rejected an Israeli request to allow Israeli aircraft to transport the passengers from Tabuk, although no additional official details were announced.
The circumstances and motives behind the incident remain under investigation, with conflicting accounts continuing to emerge over what happened inside the cockpit.
Indian Pilot Identified
The Indian newspaper Hindustan Times reported that the injured captain was an Indian national named Sumit Matchar, who was piloting the Flydubai flight when he was allegedly attacked by his co-pilot.
Matchar reportedly previously worked for SpiceJet, where he served as a captain before being promoted in November 2020 to a pilot instructor and evaluator. His professional record reportedly includes more than 9,750 flight hours on Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX aircraft.
He later joined Flydubai directly as a captain.
The nationality of the co-pilot accused of carrying out the attack has not been officially confirmed. Reports citing Israeli officials have described him as an Arab national, while the official motive behind the incident remains unclear as the investigation continues.
