Flydubai suspends Israel flights after FZ1073 cockpit incident

October 01, 2026, 10:03 (UTC +3)
Israel flights suspended as FZ1073 investigation continues

Flydubai has suspended all flights to and from Israel while authorities investigate the incident aboard flight FZ1073, the airline confirmed on October 1, 2026.

“Following the incident involving flight FZ 1073 on 30 September, and in coordination with the relevant authorities, flydubai flights to and from Israel will be suspended while the investigation continues,” a flydubai spokesperson told AeroTime.

The airline described the measure as temporary and said it would review the suspension as more information becomes available.

Flydubai said it remained in close coordination with government authorities, regulators and airport stakeholders, while affected passengers would be offered support and alternative arrangements where possible.

The carrier did not specify how long the suspension is expected to remain in place.

Saudi Arabia keeps control of FZ1073 investigation

Saudi authorities are conducting the formal investigation into the incident aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 and do not currently intend to involve Israel’s Mossad officially, according to Israel’s Channel 12.

The broadcaster reported that Saudi authorities had cooperated in treating and assisting the passengers after the aircraft landed in Tabuk, but wanted to conduct the investigation independently. The Mossad is nevertheless pursuing its own inquiries and is expected to question Israeli passengers who were aboard the flight.

Channel 12 also reported that Israeli security officials currently have no indication that the copilot was directed by Iran or another state-linked terrorist organization. Their working assessment is that he acted alone, although this has not been formally established.

September 30, 2026, 17:10 (UTC +3)

Flydubai confirms flight-deck altercation

Flydubai has confirmed that an altercation occurred on the flight deck of FZ1073 and that other flydubai crew members traveling aboard the aircraft secured the plane and diverted it to Saudi Arabia.

“An altercation occurred in the flight deck of flight FZ 1073, operating from Dubai International (DXB) to Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV), on 30 September,” the airline said in a new statement.

“The aircraft was successfully secured by on-duty flydubai crew travelling on the flight, who diverted and landed the aircraft safely at Tabuk Airport (TUU). All passengers and crew are safe and accounted for.”

Flydubai said it had deployed two replacement aircraft to Tabuk to assist passengers and crew and that the incident had no impact on other scheduled operations.

The airline cautioned that the reasons and motives behind the incident remain unknown and are subject to a formal investigation.

“We urge all parties to refrain from premature speculation while authorities gather the facts,” flydubai said.

September 30, 2026, 16:41 (UTC +3)

Netanyahu says pilot apparently tried to crash FZ1073

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the incident aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 was a “very serious security incident” and that one of the pilots apparently attempted to crash the aircraft after stabbing the other pilot.

Netanyahu said passengers and crew members intervened and prevented what he described as a major disaster.

“I salute these heroes who showed extraordinary resourcefulness and courage,” Netanyahu said.

He added that he had instructed Israel’s security establishment to prepare for possible additional threats.

September 30, 2026, 16:19 (UTC +3)

Israeli officials suspect attempted terror attack

Israeli authorities now suspect that the copilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 stabbed the captain in a possible attempted terror attack, according to three Israeli officials cited by Reuters.

The officials said cabin crew entered the cockpit and took control of the aircraft during the incident. One identified the suspected attacker as an Omani national.

Israel’s current assessment is that the incident was an attempted terror attack rather than a mental health-related event, the officials told Reuters. However, that assessment has not been confirmed by flydubai, Saudi authorities or the UAE.

Saudi authorities have independently confirmed that both pilots were injured and hospitalized after the aircraft landed in Tabuk.

September 30, 2026, 15:30 (UTC +3)

Saudi airport confirms both pilots were injured

Saudi authorities have confirmed that both pilots of flydubai flight FZ1073 were injured during the incident and taken to hospital after the aircraft landed in Tabuk.

Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport said its air traffic control center received a distress call from FZ1073 at 08:44 local time on September 30, prompting an airport emergency response. The aircraft landed safely at 09:45.

The airport said the captain and copilot were transferred to hospital for medical treatment, while passengers were assisted in the terminal. Authorities were also coordinating with flydubai to provide a replacement aircraft and said an investigation into the incident was continuing.

September 30, 2026, 13:07 (UTC +3)

Netanyahu monitored FZ1073 incident

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held consultations and monitored developments surrounding flydubai flight FZ1073 after concerns were raised over an aviation incident, his office said.

“The incident is under control,” the Prime Minister’s Office said, adding that authorities were using “all means” available to return the Israeli passengers safely to Israel.

The statement did not provide further details about what occurred aboard the aircraft or confirm Israeli media reports that the copilot attempted to seize control of the plane.

September 30, 2026, 13:02 (UTC +3)

Copilot may have tried to crash aircraft

Israeli authorities are investigating whether the copilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 attempted to seize control of the aircraft and crash it, according to a senior Israeli official cited by Channel 12.

The unnamed official said that “a very serious disaster was prevented,” while the broadcaster reported growing indications that the copilot intended to take control of the aircraft and bring it down with those on board.

Israeli media also reported that the captain was stabbed during the incident. The circumstances and motive remain under investigation, and the account has not been independently confirmed by flydubai or Saudi authorities.

September 30, 2026, 12:45 (UTC +3)

Relief pilots reportedly took control after cockpit attack

A second flight crew traveling aboard FZ1073 reportedly helped bring the aircraft under control after the alleged cockpit attack.

Israeli outlet Walla reported that relief pilots were traveling on the aircraft as passengers and took over the controls after the suspected attacker was subdued. Other Israeli reports said passengers and crew members intervened during the confrontation.

Walla also reported, citing an Israeli security source, that the copilot under investigation was believed to be of Omani origin, although his nationality had not been conclusively established.

Passenger testimony from the Flydubai flight: pic.twitter.com/1bcQR89HB5— Emily Schrader – אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر (@emilykschrader) September 30, 2026

A flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Saudi Arabia on September 30, 2026, after transmitting emergency transponder codes, including one used to indicate unlawful interference with an aircraft.

Flight FZ1073 landed safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport (TUU) in Tabuk, flydubai confirmed to AeroTime.

“Flydubai can confirm that flight FZ 1073 operating from Dubai International (DXB) to Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) on 30 September experienced an incident while en route,” a flydubai spokesperson said.

“The aircraft has landed safely in Tabuk Airport (TUU) and all passengers are safe and accounted for. The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority.”

The airline added that its teams were working with the relevant authorities and that further updates would be issued as more confirmed details became available.

Aaccording to Flightradar24 flight data, the aircraft was identified as A6-FKF, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating the scheduled service from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV). 

During the incident, the aircraft initially transmitted squawk code 7700, the standard code for a general emergency. It then briefly switched to 7500, which is reserved for unlawful interference with an aircraft, before returning to 7700 as it diverted toward Tabuk.

Timeline of flight #FZ1073 — all times UTC:03:05 — Take off from Dubai International Airport05:31 — Squawk changed to 770005:38 — Squawk changed to 750006:11 — Aircraft left Flightradar24 ground-based coverage06:28 — Squawk 7700 received via satellite06:58 — Last signal… pic.twitter.com/ChlUs4kRDU— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) September 30, 2026

Flightradar24 ADS-B and aircraft movement timeline related to today’s #FZ1073, which diverted to Tabuk after an onboard security incident. https://t.co/RI2L3pbJCC pic.twitter.com/qvNtoJJ5HM— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) September 30, 2026

The Times of Israel reported that Israeli fighter aircraft were scrambled while authorities assessed the situation. 

Israeli media subsequently reported that the emergency followed a fight between the flight’s pilots. Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported that the aircraft had been diverted following a “fight between the pilots.” 

However, the circumstances surrounding the reported altercation have not been independently confirmed. As of the time of writing, flydubai and Saudi aviation authorities had not publicly explained what prompted the emergency signals or the diversion. 

The aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, and subsequent Israeli reports said the possibility of a hijacking had been ruled out. The post Flydubai suspends Israel flights after FZ1073 cockpit incident appeared first on AeroTime.

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