On September 30, 2026, an incident occurred on board a Flydubai plane en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv that could have led to a disaster. Two passengers, a Ukrainian and a Russian pilot, managed to enter the cockpit and safely land the aircraft in Saudi Arabia.
Details of the Incident
On flight FZ1073, the second pilot attacked the captain, resulting in the latter sustaining a knife wound. Preliminary reports indicate that the second pilot, who some sources identify as a citizen of Oman, attempted to cause a plane crash. Following this, the Ukrainian and Russian pilots, who were traveling as regular passengers, were able to take control of the aircraft.
Government Response
In light of this incident, Israel's Minister of Transport, Miri Regev, demanded a suspension of all Flydubai flights to the country. She urged the Civil Aviation Authority to investigate whether the UAE violated the agreement with Israel, which allows only pilots from countries with diplomatic relations with Israel to land.
Condition of the Injured and Aftermath
The captain and the second pilot sustained injuries and were hospitalized. According to airline representatives, the incident raised serious concerns among passengers and sparked discussions about aviation safety. The pilots who saved the situation were not part of the main crew and were not performing official duties during the incident.