Flight‑tracking data shows that the Boeing 737 MAX 8, operating as FZ1073, dropped 17,400 feet in two minutes, from 34,000 to 16,600 feet, and at 1:32 a.m. ET switched its transponder to 7500, the international hijack code—an alarm that spiked a scramble of Israeli fighter jets.
The incident erupted in the cockpit, where a physical altercation between the captain and first officer culminated in one pilot being stabbed; passengers reportedly helped subdue the attacker, according to the Jerusalem Post and the Times of Israel.
The Times of Israel cited an unnamed security official who confirmed the fight, while the Associated Press added that the crew had to negotiate control to prevent a fatal outcome.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the nation faces heightened security threats, a backdrop that explains the rapid deployment of warplanes to the scene.
The Saudi authorities in Tabuk accepted the diverted aircraft and are coordinating with Israeli and UAE aviation agencies; investigators from both countries will examine cockpit voice recordings and flight data to determine the cause of the altercation.
The flight will be grounded pending the inquiry, and the outcome may influence future crew training protocols and hijack‑response procedures.