What Happened on the Fly Dubai Flight Heading to Israel? Here’s What We Know So Far

A horrific aviation disaster that threatened a plane heading to Tel Aviv was avoided, in a stunning turn of events that occurred on Wednesday when passengers and crew members bravely rushed to the cockpit and regained control of the aircraft. Flight "Fly Dubai" number FZ1073 took off from Dubai at 6:05 AM local time, heading west towards its destination near Tel Aviv.

Flight tracking data showed that after about two hours of takeoff, the plane began to lose altitude rapidly and sharply veered north; it descended 17,400 feet in just under two minutes. The flight issued a distress call at 8:31 AM, just minutes before activating the code "7500" — the code recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization to indicate that the aircraft is being hijacked.

A new video emerged documenting the tense moments when passengers and crew members stormed the cockpit and fought for control of the "Fly Dubai" aircraft. The footage shows several people gathered at the entrance of the cockpit, while a crew member shouts for other passengers to sit down and calls for a doctor to provide assistance.

One person shouted, "We need a pilot," while the cabin crew hurriedly worked to retrieve a first aid kit. Passengers described scenes of chaos on board as the nose of the plane plunged downward.

Passenger Mika Bauman told Ofoq News: "We suddenly felt a sharp descent of the plane and it started to spin a little; everyone was screaming, and there were children crying." She added, "I was absolutely sure that I was going to die."

Other passengers rushed into the cockpit and engaged with the attacker. Yaniv Hayoun recounted to Netanyahu how he tightened his grip around the neck of the alleged attacker and pulled him out of the cockpit with the help of other passengers.

Hayoun added that he then grabbed the controls of the plane to help regain control, noting that his action was inspired by watching a television program that reenacts real aviation incidents. Hayoun said, "I watch the program 'Air Crash Investigations,' Mr. Prime Minister, really.

The plane began to regain its balance and level off somewhat, then the pilot told me that he would take control from that moment on." Shota Musayev, a dentist who was on board the plane, told Oqaf News that he restrained the attacker using headphone wires and plastic ties, then began to assist the injured pilot.

Even after controlling the attacker, the passengers remained in a state of panic. Passenger Asaf Rajwan told Oqaf News: "All we had beneath us was desert; we feared we would be taken to an enemy country or land in the middle of the desert.

In another extraordinary turn of events, there were people on the flight who were skilled in flying planes, and they managed to land the aircraft safely. Both Netanyahu and Flydubai confirmed that reserve pilots - who were in the passenger cabin - were able to regain control of the plane.

The flight was diverted to Tabuk Airport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where the plane landed at 9:54 AM. In this context, David Susi, an aviation safety analyst at Afaq News Network, stated that having additional pilots on board flights - who are on standby - is quite unusual, "unless the purpose is to transport them to take over duties on other flights."

A video clip - circulated on social media and verified by Afaq News Network - showed a horrifying scene inside the plane following the attack; it shows a pilot with serious injuries lying on the floor of the aircraft, with a mask covering part of his face marked by signs of pain. The man is seen pressing his blood-stained hands against his torso; he appears to be in pain but is still conscious, while several passengers assist him and monitor his vital signs.

Directly next to him, under the guard of several men, is another pilot; the man whom passengers claim is the assailant. He is also injured and lying on his side, with his white shirt stained with blood around the abdomen area, and he was taken to the hospital according to Saudi authorities.

Musaiev stated to Afaq News Network that the pilot who was stabbed on board the "Fly Dubai" flight suffered from "severe blood loss" and sustained "serious injuries," adding: "His body was covered in wounds - on his head and hands - as his hands were literally split, almost severed in half." In a conversation with Afaq News Network, a local politician from the "Ghatkobar East" area in Mumbai - the hometown of the pilot "Matschar" - said that the pilot's family informed him that his condition is stable after undergoing surgery in a hospital in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

The Saudi Ministry of Interior reported that the co-pilot and the Indian captain - who is suspected of being attacked by the co-pilot - left for the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, on Thursday morning, accompanied by an Emirati security team, after obtaining a medical clearance allowing them to travel. Netanyahu stated to Afaq News Network that the suspect is an Omani national who is being interrogated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and will be transferred "soon" to the United Arab Emirates.

There are no official diplomatic relations between Oman and Israel, and it is still unclear how the Omani pilot obtained permission to fly to Israel. The authorities have not yet revealed the identity of the pilot who allegedly attacked "Matchehar," nor has there been any confirmation regarding the motive behind the attack or the type of weapon used in this violent altercation, although Netanyahu hinted in statements to "Fox News" that the tool used may have been a knife or an axe.

The passengers - whom Netanyahu mentioned were "almost all" Israelis - arrived in Israel on a replacement flight operated by "Fly Dubai" that was sent to Saudi Arabia. Prior to their arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, the families of the passengers anxiously awaited their loved ones, with some holding balloons that had messages such as "Welcome back" and "We are very happy to have you back home."

A spokesperson for the Israeli Airports Authority stated that the "Fly Dubai" passengers, after landing in Israel, were directed to a "designated reception area" where they met with medical teams and underwent examinations. A 50-year-old passenger was taken to the hospital due to an injury to the upper part of his body, and his condition was described as "mild," according to the official spokesperson.

Several Israeli officials praised the bravery of those on board the plane; Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated that the incident ended with a "great miracle," adding that Israel and the UAE would conduct a "thorough and joint investigation" into the incident. According to two American officials, among the passengers were four American citizens who also hold Israeli citizenship.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong reported that there were two Australian passengers on board the plane. Authorities continue to reveal details of the horrific incident, many aspects of which remain unclear.

An Israeli official told Afaq News that a group of Israeli agencies - including the Shin Bet (internal security service), the Mossad (foreign intelligence service), the military, and the Ministry of Transport - are participating in the investigation. The official explained that one of the main questions being examined relates to why the flight crew included a pilot from a country that does not have diplomatic relations with Israel.

Israel applies some of the strictest aviation security protocols in the world, due to past incidents of hijacking and attacks targeting airport terminals. Departing travelers must undergo preliminary screening and questioning, in addition to multiple passport verification processes, advanced baggage checks, and sometimes full-body scans.

Foreign airlines are also required to obtain approval from the Israeli "Aviation Security Operations Center" before starting flights to and from the country's airports. An Israeli security official told Afaq News that the Israeli internal security service (Shin Bet) is also responsible for examining and vetting the data of all airline crew members operating flights to Israel from the UAE.

Marco Chan, a senior lecturer in aviation operations at Kingston University in London, told Afaq News that investigators will likely initially focus on examining the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. He added that they will also conduct interviews with the flight crew, off-duty pilots, and passengers, as well as determine how the cockpit door was opened, how the weapon made it onto the plane, and review the pilot's medical and training records.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry reported that Israeli Foreign Minister Gidon Sa'ar had a conversation with his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during which they agreed to cooperate against "extremist elements" that threaten security. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Fly Dubai stated later on Wednesday that the airline has temporarily suspended its flights to and from Israel while the investigation is ongoing.

US President Donald Trump said he spoke with Netanyahu on Wednesday, describing the passengers' efforts to subdue the attacker as "truly remarkable." For his part, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband expressed his "grave concern" over these events, but he also expressed "great relief" that the plane landed safely thanks to the actions of those on board.