Sharing a dramatic account on what went on inside Flydubai flight FZ1073, a passenger aboard shed light on how other passengers managed to intervene and subdue the pilot-hijacker following an alleged hijacking attempt on the flight.
After landing in Israel, the passengers met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where one of the passengers recounted how the stabbed captain managed to open the cockpit door before collapsing.
According to the passenger, the captain, despite being injured, managed to unlock and open the cockpit door before losing consciousness. This gave passengers access to the cockpit, allowing them to confront and subdue the alleged attacker.
One of the Israeli passengers who subdued the pilot-hijacker on board flydubai FZ 1073 told PM Netanyahu that the stabbed captain managed to open the cockpit door before collapsing. This enabled the passengers to enter and seize the attacker, as he was attempting to destroy the… pic.twitter.com/TuOiAGBWy9
— Ariel Oseran أريئل أوسيران (@ariel_oseran) September 30, 2026
Detailing the incident, the eyewitness told Netanyahu that the passengers entered the cockpit after the captain collapsed and seized the attacker, who was allegedly attempting to damage the aircraft’s systems and crash the plane.
The dramatic intervention came after the cockpit descended into a mid-air crisis, with the pilots reportedly involved in a confrontation. The incident left both the captain and co-pilot injured.
The aircraft subsequently made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the aircraft issued a distress call to the airport authorities.
The account highlights the critical role played by the injured captain, whose actions in opening the cockpit door enabled passengers to intervene at a crucial moment and prevent the situation from escalating further.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including what led to the confrontation inside the cockpit and the sequence of events before the aircraft’s safe landing.
Indian Captain Fought Off Co-Pilot Who Tried To Crash Plane
An Indian captain of a Dubai-Tel Aviv Flydubai flight fought off his co-pilot who allegedly attempted to crash the aircraft, which had to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, Israeli media reports said on Wednesday.
Local media reported that the co-pilot was an Omani national and was suspected of trying to crash the aircraft.
The Indian captain fought with him to prevent the aircraft from crashing, with Israeli passengers later helping subdue the co-pilot, the report said.