On Wednesday, 29 May 2024, a flyDubai aircraft on flight FZ1073, bound for Tel Aviv, was thrown into chaos when a pilot stabbed his co‑pilot and attempted to crash the plane, forcing the aircraft to descend from 33,000 to 17,000 feet within a minute.
The violent struggle left both pilots injured, one hospitalized in Tabuk’s Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport. The cockpit door, normally locked for safety, was opened by the injured captain, allowing passengers and crew to subdue the attacker.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking on X, said Saudi authorities arrested the assailant and that the incident has reignited concerns over airline security, especially amid the war in Gaza.
FlyDubai, a subsidiary of Emirates, operates under UAE aviation regulations, and the incident raises questions about pilot vetting and in‑flight security measures, following past events like Germanwings Flight 9525.
The airline has pledged to cooperate with UAE and Saudi investigations, while industry experts anticipate a safety summit next month to address cockpit security protocols.