Flydubai flight diverts to Saudi Arabia amid reports of pilot fight

So, i see there's now some speculation this is all too "perfect" (read:staged) considering a certain country's prime minister said a couple of days ago that they could even be targeted by attack on air/flights.

you never know which way the news goes anymore...
 
neoprema said:
Those pilots or at least the one who put it into a dive should never be allowed to step on an aircraft ever again. Absolutely shocking

Also, does create a case for having some kind of “intelligent” dare I use the term AI (not) system that can take over in situations like this and and say listen your actions are unsafe, the cockpit voice analysis indicates distress - I’m taking over this flight and just get it to the nearest airport and ignore human inputs.
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Dave Bowman: "HAL, take over autonomous control of the aircraft..."

HAL 9000: "I'm afraid I can't do that, Dave..."

HAL 9000.jpg
 

This is Wild! FlyDubai 737MAX Hijacking went Wrong for Attacker - Pilot Blog​

A FlyDubai Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration A6-FKF performing flight FZ-1073 from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to Tel Aviv (Israel) with 174 passengers and 6 crew, was enroute at FL340 about 130nm northeast of Tabuk (Saudi Arabia) when the aircraft descended from FL340 to about 19000 feet within about 90 seconds reportedly due to a fight in the cockpit. The transponder code for unlawful interference was transmitted prompting the dispatch of Israeli fighter jets to the aircraft.

The aircraft subsequently levelled off at about 15000 feet, changed the transponder code to general emergency and diverted to Tabuk for a landing without further incident about 85 minutes after leaving FL340.

The captain received serious injuries from multiple stab wounds, the first officer was subdued and also received injuries, both were taken to a hospital. The aircraft received substantial damage.

Passenger photos show two persons in the aisle and in passenger seats with blood on their shirts.

Passengers report a physical fight broke out in the cockpit, someone attempted to stab a pilot with a pocket knife, they saw a lot of blood. The plane was out of control for some time, passengers helped to bring the situation under control.

A number of cabin crew and passengers managed to get through the cockpit door and restrain the attacker, who was pinned against the floor. Control of the aircraft was regained thereafter.

Local Authorities are investigating whether one of the pilots stabbed the other one and are also looking into the possibility that one of the pilots attempted suicide by crashing the aircraft.

Israeli Authorities have opened an investigation against the first officer amid growing indications that he tried to take over the aircraft in order to crash it.

An Israeli official reported that two other pilots in civil clothes travelling as passengers intervened successfully, these are also the ones shown on the passenger pictures with blood on their shirts. One of the pilots is citizen of South Africa, the other of New Zealand.

Israel's Air Defense Forces report the captain is citizen of the United Arab Emirates, the first officer Omani citizen. The Omani citizen is believed to have attempted to crash the aircraft.

The airline reported the aircraft carrying 174 passengers including 27 children experienced an incident enroute. Another aircraft is being sent from Dubai to Tabuk to pick the passengers up.

The airline later confirmed the emergency was triggered by a fight between the pilots. The airline is investigating the incident and has also informed Israeli Authorities. Tabuk Airport reported both pilots received injuries and were taken to a hospital.

Saudi Arabia's NTSC reported, they have commenced an investigation into the occurrence.

A replacement Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration A6-FKJ, positioned from Dubai to Tabuk and returned the passengers to Dubai arriving into Dubai about 16 hours after departure.

In the evening of Sep 30th 2026 The Aviation Herald received information, that the two pilots travelling as passengers were Flydubai Crew deadheading to Tel Aviv. They landed the aircraft into Tabuk. The assigned captain of the flight was not UAE citizen but citizen of India.
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Hopefully we get an analysis from Captain Steeeve & Pilot Debrief sometime soon...

What Makes an Aviation Incident Worth Covering? - Ask the Captain & Captain Steeeve​

Captain Steeeve and Kennedy Steve sit down with Hoover from Pilot Debrief to discuss how he chooses which aviation incidents to cover, the research and production process behind his videos, and what goes into running a successful aviation YouTube channel.

Hoover shares his approach to breaking down incidents, creating engaging content, and balancing accuracy with storytelling.
Click to expand...

 
neoprema said:
So, i see there's now some speculation this is all too "perfect" (read:staged) considering a certain country's prime minister said a couple of days ago that they could even be targeted by attack on air/flights.

you never know which way the news goes anymore...
Click to expand...
There's also some speculation that the attacker was a transgender female suffering from postpartum.
 
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