A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after an incident in the cockpit.
The flight FZ103 was redirected to Tabuk around two hours after take off from Dubai on a Wednesday. An emergency alert was sent after they sharply turned back and started to descend rapidly.
They plummeted almost 17,000 feet, or 5,200 metres, in two minutes, the available information said. A hijacking alert was then raised, but the circumstances are not clear.
Flydubai said all passengers were safe and accounted for after the incident. The airline said that the aircraft made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport at 08:44 local time, after a distress call to air traffic control.
The company operating the airport said that the aircraft’s captain and first officer were taken to hospital. Passengers have reported a stabbing of a pilot in the cockpit. One passenger said two of the pilots from the rear of the aircraft came forward to help with landing.
However, those reports have not been independently confirmed. Witnesses reportedly saw blood and a knife onboard, however not clear on who was involved in the alleged attack and what happened inside the cockpit. The motive for the incident is unknown.
The identities and nationalities of the involved, including the injured pilots and crew members who helped land the aircraft, are not known. There have been no official statements yet from police, emergency services or investigators.
