FZ1073 Diverted to Tabuk Following Cockpit Incident; UAE, Saudi Authorities Investigate.
Dubai: A flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday following what the UAE aviation regulator described as a security incident on board. The incident left members of the flight crew injured and resulted in an emergency landing in Tabuk.
Flight FZ1073 departed Dubai International Airport for Ben Gurion International Airport but was diverted to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk after emergency codes were transmitted during the journey. The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers were later flown to Tel Aviv on an alternative aircraft.
flydubai confirmed that an altercation took place in the flight deck but has not verified more detailed accounts of what occurred. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said investigators, in coordination with the relevant authorities, are examining the operational and security circumstances surrounding the incident.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that one pilot stabbed the other and attempted to crash the aircraft. However, this account has not been independently confirmed by UAE authorities. flydubai has urged the public to avoid speculation while the official investigation remains underway.
What happened?
Flight FZ1073 departed Dubai at 7.05am UAE time on September 30, heading for Tel Aviv. Data from flight-tracking service Flightradar24 showed the aircraft climbing to an altitude of around 34,000 feet.
At approximately 9.21am, the aircraft began a significant descent before climbing sharply and descending again. By around 9.33am, it was flying at an altitude of about 15,000 feet.
During the flight, the aircraft transmitted transponder code 7700, the internationally recognised signal for a general emergency.
Minutes later, the transponder switched to code 7500, which is used internationally to indicate unlawful interference with an aircraft.
According to Flightradar24, the aircraft then turned west and briefly entered Jordanian airspace before changing course and heading back towards Saudi Arabia. As it approached Tabuk, the transponder code changed back to 7700.
While the flight-tracking data provides a timeline of the aircraft’s movements and emergency signals, it does not establish what was taking place inside the flight deck at the time.
Flight FZ1073 incident timeline
- 07:05 AM UAE time — Departure from Dubai: Flight FZ1073 departs Dubai International Airport for Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. According to Flightradar24, the aircraft climbs to an altitude of approximately 34,000 feet.
- 09:21 AM UAE time — Sudden descent: Flight-tracking data shows the aircraft beginning a steep descent, followed by a sharp climb and another significant descent. By around 09:33 AM, it is flying at approximately 15,000 feet.
- 09:28 AM UAE time — General emergency code: The aircraft transmits transponder code 7700, the internationally recognised code for a general emergency, while flying near the Saudi-Jordanian border.
- 09:35 AM UAE time — Unlawful interference code: The aircraft’s transponder changes to 7500, the internationally recognised code indicating unlawful interference. According to Flightradar24, the aircraft then turns west, briefly enters Jordanian airspace and subsequently turns back towards Saudi Arabia.
- 09:44 AM UAE time — Distress call: Air traffic controllers in Tabuk receive a distress call from FZ1073 requesting permission to make an emergency landing. This corresponds to 08:44 AM local time in Saudi Arabia.
- 10:45 AM UAE time — Safe landing in Tabuk: The aircraft lands safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, according to a statement from the airport. The airport said the captain and first officer sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for medical treatment.
- 10:58 AM UAE time — Flight tracking ends: Flightradar24 receives its final tracking signal from the aircraft at Tabuk airport.
- 06:40 PM UAE time — Passengers continue journey: According to Tabuk airport, all passengers later departed aboard an alternative aircraft provided by the airline. This corresponds to 05:40 PM local time in Saudi Arabia.
What flydubai says
flydubai initially confirmed that flight FZ1073 had experienced an incident while travelling to Tel Aviv and had landed safely in Tabuk. The airline confirmed that all passengers were safe and accounted for and said its teams were working closely with the relevant authorities.
The airline later disclosed that an altercation had occurred in the flight deck during the journey.
According to flydubai, on-duty crew members who were travelling on board intervened and secured the aircraft before diverting it to Tabuk, where it landed safely.
The airline also said it deployed two replacement aircraft to Tabuk to assist the affected passengers and crew.
Flight FZ1073 incident timeline
- 07:05 AM UAE time — Departure from Dubai: Flight FZ1073 departs Dubai International Airport for Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. According to Flightradar24, the aircraft climbs to an altitude of approximately 34,000 feet.
- 09:21 AM UAE time — Sudden descent: Flight-tracking data shows the aircraft beginning a steep descent, followed by a sharp climb and another significant descent. By around 09:33 AM, it is flying at approximately 15,000 feet.
- 09:28 AM UAE time — General emergency code: The aircraft transmits transponder code 7700, the internationally recognised code for a general emergency, while flying near the Saudi-Jordanian border.
- 09:35 AM UAE time — Unlawful interference code: The aircraft’s transponder changes to 7500, the internationally recognised code indicating unlawful interference. According to Flightradar24, the aircraft then turns west, briefly enters Jordanian airspace and subsequently turns back towards Saudi Arabia.
- 09:44 AM UAE time — Distress call: Air traffic controllers in Tabuk receive a distress call from FZ1073 requesting permission to make an emergency landing. This corresponds to 08:44 AM local time in Saudi Arabia.
- 10:45 AM UAE time — Safe landing in Tabuk: The aircraft lands safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, according to a statement from the airport. The airport said the captain and first officer sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for medical treatment.
- 10:58 AM UAE time — Flight tracking ends: Flightradar24 receives its final tracking signal from the aircraft at Tabuk airport.
- 06:40 PM UAE time — Passengers continue journey: According to Tabuk airport, all passengers later departed aboard an alternative aircraft provided by the airline. This corresponds to 05:40 PM local time in Saudi Arabia.
What flydubai says
flydubai initially confirmed that flight FZ1073 had experienced an incident while travelling to Tel Aviv and had landed safely in Tabuk. The airline confirmed that all passengers were safe and accounted for and said its teams were working closely with the relevant authorities.
The airline later disclosed that an altercation had occurred in the flight deck during the journey.
According to flydubai, on-duty crew members who were travelling on board intervened and secured the aircraft before diverting it to Tabuk, where it landed safely.
The airline also said it deployed two replacement aircraft to Tabuk to assist the affected passengers and crew.
flydubai stressed that the reasons and motives behind the incident were not known at that stage and would be determined through the formal investigation.
The airline urged the public and other parties to avoid speculation while the authorities continue gathering and verifying the facts.
This distinction remains significant. While flydubai has confirmed that an altercation occurred in the flight deck and that the aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, it has not publicly confirmed allegations that one of the pilots attempted to crash the aircraft.
What the GCAA says
The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) described what happened on board FZ1073 as a security incident that was subsequently brought under control.
According to the authority, the incident required the aircraft to divert and make an emergency landing in Tabuk and resulted in injuries to members of the flight crew.
The GCAA stressed that the safety and security of passengers and crew remain its highest priorities.
Investigation teams are working with the relevant authorities to establish the causes and circumstances surrounding the incident, including its operational and security aspects.
The aviation regulator has also urged the public to avoid circulating information from unofficial sources or drawing conclusions before the investigation is completed.
What Israeli officials say
Israeli officials have offered a more detailed account of what they say occurred inside the flight deck.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that one pilot stabbed the other and subsequently attempted to crash the aircraft.
While this account has been widely reported, it remains a statement from an Israeli official and has not been established as a finding of the UAE investigation.
UAE authorities have not publicly confirmed that the incident involved an attempt to deliberately crash or hijack the aircraft, and the motive remains under investigation.
UAE Attorney-General orders investigation
UAE Attorney-General Counsellor Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi has ordered the formation of a specialised Public Prosecution team to investigate the incident involving flydubai flight FZ1073.
The investigation is aimed at establishing the circumstances and motives surrounding the incident, while UAE authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation until the inquiry is complete.
Injured pilot identified as Indian national
The injured captain has been identified as Indian national Captain Smit Machchhar. He was admitted to hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following the incident and was reported to be in stable condition while receiving medical treatment.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Machchhar for his actions during the incident, saying that despite being seriously injured, he displayed courage and a determination to protect those on board. Modi said his actions helped save lives and avert a major tragedy, adding that India was proud of him.
Indian diplomatic officials have also been in contact with Machchhar’s family and authorities in the region as they monitor his condition and recovery. Indian officials said assistance would continue to be provided to the captain and his family.
Passengers continue journey
Passengers remained in Tabuk following the emergency landing while flydubai arranged alternative aircraft to continue their journey.
The airline said it deployed two replacement aircraft to Tabuk to assist the passengers and crew.
Tabuk airport later confirmed that all passengers departed at 5.40pm local time aboard an alternative aircraft provided by the carrier.
Footage subsequently showed a flydubai replacement flight arriving at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv at around 15:34 GMT.
The passengers therefore eventually reached their intended destination after the unscheduled diversion and spending several hours on the ground in Saudi Arabia.
Flights to Israel suspended
The incident has also affected air travel between the UAE and Israel.
flydubai announced that, in coordination with the relevant authorities, it would temporarily suspend flights to and from Israel while the investigation remains underway.
The airline said the safety and wellbeing of its passengers, crew and operations remained its highest priority, adding that the suspension would allow the authorities to continue their investigation and establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Emirates has separately suspended its codeshare operations with flydubai on services to and from Tel Aviv with immediate effect and until further notice.
According to the airline, passengers whose final destination is Tel Aviv will not be accepted for travel from their point of origin. Customers who are already travelling will be accommodated and supported in completing their journeys.
Passengers booked on an Emirates codeshare involving a flydubai service to Tel Aviv are advised to check their booking status and the latest guidance from the airline before travelling.
What remains unknown
Despite statements from the airline and authorities, several important questions remain unanswered as investigators work to establish exactly what happened on board FZ1073:
- What triggered the altercation in the flight deck?
- Who initiated the physical confrontation?
- What caused the aircraft’s sudden changes in altitude?
- Why was transponder code 7500 activated?
- What occurred inside the flight deck before the diversion?
- What, if any, was the motive behind the incident?
- What additional security measures could follow the investigation?
UAE authorities have not yet released official findings addressing these questions.
flydubai has maintained that the reasons and motives behind the incident remain subject to investigation, while the GCAA has urged the public to avoid circulating unofficial information or drawing conclusions before the inquiry is completed.
