Flydubai B38M near Tabuk on Sep 30th 2026, fight in the cockpit, first officer under investigation for suspected suicide attempt

Last Update: October 10, 2026 / 20:36:04 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Sep 30, 2026

Classification
Accident

Airline
Flydubai

Flight number
FZ-1073

Departure
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Destination
Tel Aviv, Israel

Aircraft Registration
A6-FKF

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800MAX

ICAO Type Designator
B38M

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 later returned to Dubai arriving into Dubai about 16 hours after departure of A6-FKF. Another replacement Boeing 737-8 MAX, registration A6-FKR, positioned from Dubai to Tabuk, too, and continued to Tel Aviv arriving into Tel Aviv with a delay of about 9.5 hours.

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.

On Oct 1st 2026 the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, that the UAE Attorney General has ordered the formation of a team of specialised members of the Public Prosection to investigate the circumstances and causes of the accident. UAE does have jurisdiction on board of the aircraft even if outside of the UAE because the aircraft is UAE registered. The Ministry noted that the investigation includes examining all circumstances and motives surrounding the incident, including any possible connection to terrorist activity or intent, and whether it involved prior planning or direction. The UAE also expressed its appreciation to the Saudi authorities for their cooperation and handling of the incident.

Israel's Prime Minister stated that Saudi Authorities are interrogating the first officer, he had undergone "Islamist radical indoctrination".

The airline stated that at this early stage the underlying reasons and motives behind this event are unknown and remain subject to a formal investigation.

The assigned captain told India's Prime Minister in a video call, he was attacked by the first officer and laid severly injured on the floor when he noticed the aircraft was descending. He mobilized all his remaining strength to open the door, he said "I was not going to let the others die". Others entered the cockpit and brought the situation under control.

Both assigned crew were treated in a hospital in Saudi Arabia, the captain was subsequently flown to the United Arab Emirates. The captain is reported in a stable condition and is recovering well. A security team took the first officer also to the UAE for investigation.

On Oct 3rd 2026 UAE's general states attorney stated the first officer attacked the captain with the onboard axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft to perform a terror attack. The captain managed to open the cockpit door so that passengers could subdue the first officer. The investigation is continuing to the motive and possible connections.

On Oct 10th 2026 the UAE general states attorney added, that the first officer had planned a suicide attack onto Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport inspired by the 09/11 attacks. He had begun to become radicalized while undergoing training in Australia. He subsequently worked for Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc. The accident flight had been the first officer's third flight to Tel Aviv, he had used the earlier flights to plan the attack. During the accident flight he used the emergency axe to attack the captain. A dead heading captain, assigned to perform the return flight, noticed that the cockpit door opened and closed several times in an unusual manner and intervened with the assistance of a cabin crew member and a number of passengers, together they rescued the captain and restrained the suspect. The return flight captain and his return first officer then landed the aircraft in Tabuk.
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Sep 30, 2026

Classification
Accident

Airline
Flydubai

Flight number
FZ-1073

Departure
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Destination
Tel Aviv, Israel

Aircraft Registration
A6-FKF

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800MAX

ICAO Type Designator
B38M

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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