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Passengers on a Flydubai flight were seen clapping, singing and celebrating as the aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia following a dramatic incident inside the cockpit, according to a purported video published by Hebrew media outlets.
The footage, released by Channel 12 and other Israeli media, appears to show passengers reacting with relief as the Boeing 737 Max 8 comes in to land. The video has emerged after the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight was diverted to Saudi Arabia following a reported altercation involving the pilots.
Flydubai flight FZ 1073 diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, due to an alleged cockpit incident involving pilots, prompting investigation into possible motives including terror or mental health issues. Passengers landed safely, but authorities have not officially confirmed the cause or details of the event.
The incident has since triggered intense discussions in Israel, with Channel 12 and Ynet reporting that officials are examining whether the episode could have been an attempted terror attack. There has been no official confirmation of such a motive.
The Flydubai flight, operating as FZ 1073, was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when it issued an emergency alert and changed course. Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft dropping from around 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet within about a minute before making an unusual turn near the Jordanian border.
It eventually landed in Tabuk, a city that also has a military presence in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
Unconfirmed reports in Hebrew media claimed that the Omani co-pilot was being questioned by Saudi authorities after allegedly attacking the Emirati captain with a knife and attempting to crash the aircraft.
However, those claims have not been officially confirmed.
🚨Footage from social media shows passengers clapping & celebrating the successful landing of the Flydubai plane
According to the passengers intews:
– The pilot, who allegedly intended to carry out a terrorist attack, was disarmed by passengers with the crew
– An additional… https://t.co/fyhaV3G7DU pic.twitter.com/IvhESbteBP
— Lisa Singh (@YakushinaLisa) September 30, 2026
Authorities are also looking into other possible explanations, including an apparent mental health episode that may not have had any political or nationalist motive.
The sudden change in the aircraft’s flight path initially raised concerns in Israel about a possible hijacking. Israeli fighter jets were scrambled as a precaution while the situation was being assessed.
Passengers later told Channel 12 that they heard shouting from the front section of the aircraft, where the cockpit is located, and felt the plane descend sharply. They also said Saudi security forces surrounded the aircraft after it landed.
Flydubai confirmed that FZ 1073 had experienced an incident and landed safely in Tabuk.
“Our teams are working closely with the relevant authorities,” the airline said, adding that further updates would be issued as confirmed information became available.
All passengers were reported safe.
Neither Israeli, Saudi nor Emirati authorities has publicly confirmed the reported stabbing, an attempted crash or the possibility of a terror attack.
With inputs from agencies.
