Netanyahu Says Saudi Arrests Flydubai Pilot Who Tried to Hijack Plane in Tabuk

A flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, registered as FZ 1073, made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a pilot allegedly tried to hijack the aircraft. The incident, which occurred roughly 2½ hours after takeoff, saw the plane drop from 33,000 to 17,000 feet before looping near the Jordanian border. Saudi authorities arrested the suspected hijacker and interrogated him on the ground. The flight carried dozens of Israeli passengers and two injured pilots who were taken to a hospital.

Netanyahu told reporters that a second crew member in civilian clothes helped stop the hijack attempt and that a passenger recounted how the crew stabilized the aircraft. The pilot who attacked the other was arrested, while the captain and first officer were hospitalized for injuries sustained during the altercation.

Israeli fighter jets were deployed to intercept the aircraft as it approached the border, and the Israel Airports Authority opened a dedicated waiting area at Ben Gurion for families of the passengers. Transport Minister Miri Regev demanded an investigation into a possible violation of the aviation agreement and called for a suspension of flydubai flights to Israel.

The investigation into the cockpit altercation is underway, and the Israeli government is preparing for additional security measures. The flight will return to Ben Gurion Airport once the investigation concludes, and authorities will keep the public informed as new details emerge.