An ordinary commercial flight bound for Israel turned into a desperate fight for survival Wednesday after a violent confrontation erupted inside the cockpit of a Flydubai passenger jet, forcing the aircraft to divert to Saudi Arabia.
The Boeing 737, operating as Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, experienced a dramatic loss of altitude after the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with a knife. Passengers reported scenes of panic as the aircraft plunged thousands of feet, raising fears that the plane had been hijacked.
The jet ultimately landed safely at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Israeli officials are investigating whether the incident was an attempted terrorist attack, while Flydubai has confirmed that a confrontation took place in the cockpit. The airline has said the circumstances and motive remain under investigation.
The incident prompted an urgent response as the aircraft descended over the region. Israeli fighter jets were reportedly scrambled amid concerns about a possible hijacking, according to reports cited by Fox News.
