Plane Plunged 20,000 Feet as Pilot Allegedly Tried to Crash It, Report Says
A Flydubai flight made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a pilot allegedly tried to crash the plane, sparking a cockpit struggle.
Jerusalem, 30 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Preliminary findings and suspicions under investigation indicate that the Flydubai Boeing 737 plunged roughly 20,000 feet in a matter of minutes, dropping from an altitude of above 30,000 feet to around 15,000 feet at high speed, several Israeli media outlets reported Wednesday morning.
Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Ben Gurion Airport made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a dramatic incident in the cockpit.
Investigators are examining suspicions that one of the pilots attempted to crash the aircraft, triggering a violent physical struggle between the two pilots.
According to some reports, the confrontation included an attempted stabbing with a pocketknife. The co-pilot reportedly fought to regain control of the aircraft, while the cockpit door was opened and Israeli passengers rushed forward to help restrain the pilot.
The incident triggered international emergency codes indicating a possible hijacking, prompting Israeli fighter jets to scramble.