Saudi Authorities Have Arrested One Of The Pilots Of The Flydubai Flight

• 30.09.2026, 17:28

Netanyahu revealed details of the emergency incident.

Saudi Arabian authorities have arrested the pilot of a Flydubai flight that made an emergency landing at Tabuk International Airport in the northwest of the kingdom. He stabbed his colleague and attempted to crash the plane. This was stated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Rtvi.com.

“One of the pilots stabbed the other, after which he attempted to crash the plane. <�…> Saudi Arabian authorities have arrested the pilot who attacked his colleague, and an investigation is underway,” Netanyahu said.

The Israeli prime minister emphasized that security forces will remain on high alert for any new potential threats.

Saudi Arabian authorities have not yet commented on the situation.

On the morning of September 30, a Flydubai aircraft operating a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv sent a distress signal. Initially, Flight FZ1073 sent air traffic controllers the code 7700, indicating a general emergency or an incident on board, and later sent 7500, indicating a hijacking or aircraft seizure. There were 174 passengers on board, including 27 children.

According to Israeli media reports, the plane’s co-pilot—a citizen of Oman—is suspected of attempting to hijack the plane with the intent of causing a crash. As previously reported by the Ynet news portal, Israel will send military aircraft to Saudi Arabia to evacuate its citizens.