Netanyahu alleges co-pilot tried to crash jet carrying 174 people

By Caleb Reed · 2026-10-01

Cockpit attack on flight FZ1073

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one of the pilots stabbed the second pilot and apparently tried to crash the plane with everyone on board.^[1] The Boeing 737, operating as Flydubai flight FZ1073, was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv on 30 September 2026 with 174 people on board when the cockpit incident occurred.

Passengers and off-duty crew rushed the cockpit and restrained the co-pilot using cable ties and headphone cords. Two off-duty Flydubai pilots travelling as passengers took control of the aircraft. Flydubai confirmed an altercation occurred in the flight deck. The aircraft was secured by on-duty flydubai crew travelling on the flight, who diverted and landed it safely at Tabuk Airport, the airline said.^[2]

Timeline and official response

Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk received a distress call from FZ1073 at 08:44 a.m. local time and the aircraft landed safely at 09:45 a.m., with both the captain and first officer injured and transported to hospital.^[3]

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority said the incident was brought under control before the diversion to Tabuk Airport, where the aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia.^[4] Saudi authorities detained the co-pilot on the ground at Tabuk after the landing, with the captain and first officer transported to hospital for treatment.

Where the accounts diverge

Flydubai's statement described the event only as an altercation in the flight deck and made no reference to a stabbing or an attempted crash. Its public account covered the altercation and the crew's diversion and landing at Tabuk Airport.^[2] Netanyahu's characterisation went further than anything the airline or UAE regulator said publicly, alleging the co-pilot tried to destroy the aircraft with 174 people on board during the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight.

The UAE authority confirmed crew members were injured and taken to hospital. It offered no details on how the incident unfolded or how the captain and first officer were hurt.^[4] UAE and Saudi authorities are conducting a joint investigation, and neither has described the event as a hijacking in its public statements about flight FZ1073.

Misinformation spread online

False video purportedly showing the incident circulated widely on social media after the flight landed, presenting unrelated footage as if it showed events aboard flight FZ1073. ABC Verify reported that one post pushing a 'false flag' claim about the flight was viewed more than 1.5 million times.^[5]

Flydubai suspended all flights to and from Israel following the incident. It said the suspension would remain while authorities investigate the altercation, the injuries and the diversion to Tabuk.^[2] No date for the resumption of Israel services has been announced, and the airline's Israel services remain suspended.

Caleb Reed

Caleb Reed covers breaking news and sport. He works to the rhythm of a story as it unfolds, and he is happiest when the facts arrive faster than anyone can spin them.