Stories
Mid-air 14,000-foot drop, '7500' hijack alert: What happened on Flydubai flight to Israel?
N
News18•30-09-2026, 18:55
Mid-air 14,000-foot drop, '7500' hijack alert: What happened on Flydubai flight to Israel?
- •A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv experienced a violent altercation between two pilots in the cockpit.
- •One pilot allegedly stabbed the other, causing the aircraft to drop over 14,000 feet.
- •The plane issued a '7700' general emergency signal, followed by a '7500' hijack alert.
- •Passengers reported panic, with one opening the cockpit door to find a bloodied pilot.
- •The flight safely diverted and landed at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, and an investigation is underway.
Key Questions Answered
A bloody conflict broke out in the cockpit between two pilots on Flydubai flight FZ1073, during which one pilot allegedly stabbed the other with a knife, leading to an altitude drop and emergency alerts before landing safely in Saudi Arabia.
The aircraft's transponder code changed to 7500, which is an international signal for unlawful interference or hijacking, after a violent altercation and stabbing incident occurred between the pilots inside the cockpit.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was diverted from its route to Tel Aviv and landed safely at Tabuk Regional Airport in Saudi Arabia, where all passengers were accounted for and both pilots received medical treatment.
