Cockpit clash forces distress signal on Dubai‑to‑Tel Aviv flight

newsSep 30, 202640217

A Flydubai flight from Dubai bound for Tel Aviv diverted and made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after crew members reported a violent altercation in the cockpit, Israeli officials said. Passengers told Israeli outlets the clash left one crew member bleeding from a stab wound and that other passengers helped subdue the attacker. The aircraft issued a hijacking/distress signal, prompting Israeli and Saudi fighter jets to scramble amid fears of a hijacking. Reports give the passenger count as roughly 160 to 180 people on board and list the flight variously as FZ1073 and FZ1081 in early tracking; flight-tracking services briefly showed diversions before the aircraft landed. Flight data and multiple outlets described a rapid, large descent before the situation was brought under control. The plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia and authorities from the countries involved opened inquiries into the incident.

Carl Quintanilla

@carlquintanilla.bsky.social

* A SECOND FLYDUBAI FLIGHT FROM DUBAI TO TEL AVIV, FZ1081, HAS DIVERTED, NOW HEADING BACK TO DUBAI -- FLIGHTRADAR24 @reuters.com

1183h ago

Mike Doughney 🇺🇸5

FZ1081 appears to have resumed normal course to Tel Aviv.

Tru_KaRMA.bsky.social3

I remember the quiet skies in America

Kiki Molloy1

Let's keep these birds on the ground for a few hours, folks.

Pop Base

@popbase.tv

A flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv had to land in Saudi Arabia after the two pilots reportedly got into a fight. It is currently unclear what caused the “violent incident.” (edition.cnn.com/2026/09/30/w...)

373h ago

Quoting this

dio13

good morning pop base. quick question: why are you sharing this?

Avishay BSG (Ben-Sasson-Gordis)

@avishaybsg.bsky.social

Are y’all on top of the fly-Dubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv that got hijacked by one of its pilots this morning and may yet (re)start a Middle East war? You should be

253h ago

Gabrielle🇸🇨4

There's extraordinary footage inside the cockpit as Israelis render aid to the attacker and the pilot. Once again Israelis provide aid to the person who was trying to kill them

Shayna Weiss2

quite the news to wake up to

JadenBaughFan1

Co-pilot stabs the pilot and puts the plane into a nosedive, per reports. If true, it was a suicide attack.

Gabrielle🇸🇨1

Video from inside the cockpit after the attacker was subdued bsky.app/profile/djan...

StandWithUs

@standwithus.bsky.social

🚨 Brave testimonies from the sky: "The terrorist is neutralized." A flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv turned into a fight for survival. According to reports, a pilot pulled a knife and stabbed his fellow pilot in the cockpit, in what Israeli officials believe was an attempt to crash the plane

83h ago

Faytuks Network

@faytuksnetwork.bsky.social

Walla, Channel 12 and Israel Hayom report that a second flydubai flight to Tel Aviv, FDB1081, is diverting back to Dubai. Flightradar24 lists it as diverting, but the aircraft is continuing on its normal route for now.

74h ago

OSINT Mirror Feed

@osint-mirrors.bsky.social

Source: @osint613 on X FLYDUBAI PLANE ATTACK: HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a violent altercation broke out between the 2 pilots. (1/10)

35h ago

David

@daverino.bsky.social

“The plane, a Boeing 737 Max 8, was flying a daily route between the United Arab Emirates and Israel. Israeli officials said it had between 160 and 180 passengers on board. It was due to arrive at Ben-Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv at 9:10 a.m.”. www.nytimes.com/live/2026/09...

24h ago

Yonette Joseph

@sugarcane99.bsky.social

Officials of three Israeli government agencies said the pilot and co-pilot had gotten into a fight. Passengers described to Israeli news outlets a terrifying melee that left one crew member bleeding from a stab wound and ended with his attacker subdued by passengers. www.nytimes.com/live/2026/09...

34h ago

Sue Massa

@smassa.bsky.social

Dubai-Tel Aviv flight lands in Saudi Arabia after pilots brawl in cockpit, triggering hijacking alert. Flydubai jet with 174 aboard lands in Saudi Arabia after cockpit stabbing sends plane into sudden plunge; Omani co-pilot suspected of trying to crash plane before being subdued by captain and

32h ago

Andrew Donaldson

@four4thefire.bsky.social

This sure seems like a way-too-close a call that some heroic folks stopped from being a horrific terrorist act news.sky.com/story/flydub...

33h ago

FinTwitter

@fintwitter.bsky.social

FLIGHTRADAR24 WEBSITE NOW SHOWS FLYDUBAI FLIGHT FZ1081 CONTINUING TO TEL AVIV AFTER PREVIOUSLY SHOWING IT WAS DIVERTING TO DUBAI; NO IMMEDIATE COMMENT FROM FLIGHTRADAR24

13h ago