A Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk Airport on Wednesday after a serious incident involving the pilots.
The initial reports hinted at a possible hijacking as the aircraft transmitted emergency code squawk 7500, indicating unlawful interference.
Even as the investigation is underway, Israeli officials have described the incident as an attempted “terror attack”.
Here is what is known so far.
Flydubai flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv when it changed course over Saudi Arabia.
According to flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 that has been cited by multiple reports, the aircraft descended from about 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in a minute. It then made an erratic turn near the Jordanian border and diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.
Flydubai has since confirmed that more than 150 passengers on the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft are accounted for.
However, an update from the Tabuk airport has confirmed injuries to the pilots.
Saudi Arabia’s Cluster2 Airports, which operates the airport, has issued a statement. "On Wednesday, September 30, at 08:44 local time, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport (PSAIA) received a notification from the ATC Unit of a distress call from flydubai flight number (FZ1073), requesting an emergency landing at the airport,” read the statement issued by Cluster2.
“The airport declared the appropriate emergency response level as per the established protocols to assist the distressed aircraft.
“The flight landed safely at 09:45 local time, where it was found that the captain and first officer sustained injuries and were immediately transferred to hospital to receive the necessary medical care. Passengers were provided with the necessary assistance at the terminal, while coordination is underway with flydubai to arrange a replacement aircraft.”
The exact set of events that unfolded inside the cockpit has not been independently verified. However, from videos circulated on social media, the captain could be seen covered in blood as passengers stand next to him. A few passengers could also be seen in bloodstained clothing.
Reports from Israeli media indicate that there was a physical confrontation inside the cockpit. According to a Reuters report, the co-pilot stabbed the captain before cabin crew entered the cockpit and helped regain control of the aircraft.
Flydubai has not provided a detailed statement.
Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft first transmitted squawk 7700, followed by squawk 7500.The first one is a standard emergency code used by flights to alert air traffic control of a general emergency, potentially requesting priority on landing.
However, squawk 7500, once transmitted, indicates unlawful interference and can be associated with a hijacking or an attempt to take control of the aircraft.
Israeli media reported that the emergency signals prompted authorities to treat the incident as a security threat and scrambled fighter aircrafts.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office later said the situation was under control.
Israeli officials cited by Reuters said the incident may have been an attempted “terror attack” by one of the pilots.
According to the unnamed officials, the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain before attempting to take control of the aircraft. This version has yet to be verified by Saudi Arabian authorities or Flydubai.
Meanwhile, Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev asked the Shin Bet security service to consider halting flydubai flights to and from Israel.
(Compiled by Arun George)