After Emergency Landing: Key Information About Flydubai's Flight Path to Israel

On board flight FZ1073 operated by Fly Dubai, the atmosphere of the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv turned into a state of emergency after the co-pilot attacked the Indian captain with a knife, according to reports, preliminary data, and witness testimonies.

The captain managed to resist the attacker and opened the cockpit door, prompting several passengers to intervene to help control the situation. This information remains preliminary, pending what the ongoing investigations will reveal about the details surrounding the incident and the sequence of events.

During the flight, the aircraft transmitted code 7700, used to indicate a general emergency, before later sending code 7500, designated for reporting unlawful interference or the possibility of hijacking, and then returned to sending code 7700.

Tracking data showed changes in altitude and course, while available information indicated that the aircraft, a Boeing 737 Max 8, safely landed at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk after changing its course, with reports stating that all passengers are fine.

For his part, aviation and air safety expert Mahmoud Al-Qat said to Al Arabiya that cockpit recordings are a crucial element in the investigation, explaining that the recordings documenting what happened between the pilots could reveal the sequence of events and the details that preceded and occurred during the incident.

Regarding the tool used in the attack, the cat ruled out that it was one of the food utensils, indicating that the nature of the injuries may help investigators determine the tool used. He also did not rule out the possibility that the co-pilot resorted to some trick to hide the tool of the incident.

According to the testimony of one of the Israeli passengers, who was received by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after arriving on the alternative plane, he realized the seriousness of the situation after seeing the cockpit door open and hearing the pilot's screams. According to his account, the passenger collaborated with several other passengers to enter the cockpit and control the attacker, who attempted, according to his testimony, to crash the plane and disable its controls. He added that he was able, with the help of the passengers, to resist him and remove him from the cockpit.

The passenger, who works as a plumber, explained that he then took control of the aircraft's joystick in an attempt to prevent it from crashing and to regain control.

Since the moment the distress call was received, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk dealt with the incident by preparing response and emergency teams to receive the aircraft. Tabuk Airport announced that it received the distress call from the flight at 8:44 AM, before the plane landed safely at 9:45 AM.

The aircraft showed signs of damage to its tail after descending more than 14,000 feet within a period ranging from 30 to 50 seconds.

Following the landing, the relevant authorities dealt with the injuries of the pilots, and they were transferred to the hospital for medical care, while necessary care was provided to the passengers.

For its part, the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia announced that Indian pilot Sumeet Machhar, the captain of the "Fly Dubai" flight that was diverted to Tabuk, is receiving the necessary healthcare in the Kingdom.

The embassy clarified that his health condition is stable, according to available information, while awaiting a comprehensive medical update regarding his injuries.

It added that it is in contact with the pilot's family, confirming ongoing monitoring of his health condition in coordination with Saudi authorities, who are providing the necessary assistance to ensure he receives medical care.

The Saudi Transport Safety Center announced the start of an investigation into the incident involving the "Fly Dubai" aircraft, explaining that the plane encountered an incident during its flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, before its route was diverted and it made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk.

The center confirmed that it is coordinating with the relevant authorities regarding the investigation and is working to gather information and evidence related to the incident to understand its circumstances and determine its details.

After the emergency landing, Fly Dubai sent two planes to transport the passengers, according to what was reported by Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, which indicated that Saudi Arabia rejected an Israeli request to send a plane to transport the travelers. In contrast, the Kingdom later announced that it was handling the incident according to international laws and applicable regulations.

The Emirates News Agency reported that the Attorney General directed the formation of an investigation team from members of the Public Prosecution to investigate the incident of Fly Dubai flight heading from Dubai to Tel Aviv. It also reported that the Attorney General's directive included taking necessary measures to gather information and evidence, understand the truth of the incident, its circumstances, and motives, and verify whether it is related to any terrorist activity or if there was prior planning or direction for it.

The Emirati Attorney General confirmed that investigations are still ongoing, urging to avoid speculation or circulating unreliable information regarding the incident before the authorities complete their investigations.

So far, the details of the minutes leading up to the incident and what occurred inside the cockpit remain the focus of the investigations, awaiting the results of the cockpit recordings examination, the testimonies of the pilots and passengers, and the evidence that was collected after the plane landed.

While initial information indicates that the aircraft's captain and co-pilot sustained injuries, accurately determining the circumstances of the incident, its motives, and the sequence of events remains contingent upon what the official investigations will reveal.