A pilot to Al Arabiya.net: The injury of both pilots of a Fly Dubai plane is an extremely dangerous situation

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What happens when both pilots are injured at the same time? A question that imposed itself after the emergency landing of a Flydubai plane at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, on Wednesday, after the plane’s captain and his co-pilot were injured during the flight.

Tabuk Airport had announced that it had received a distress call from the flight at 8:44 am, so emergency procedures were immediately initiated and the alert level was raised in preparation for receiving the plane.

The Emirati plane landed safely at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, after a flight heading from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to circulating media reports, the state of emergency came as a result of a quarrel between the pilots, while the circumstances of the incident have not yet been officially clarified.

Speaking to Al Arabiya.net, Captain Pilot Hassan Al-Ghamdi described this scenario as “extremely dangerous,” explaining that the safety of the flight crew is directly related to the safety of the plane and passengers. He pointed out that the distress call does not necessarily mean that the crew is unable to continue the flight, as it may be issued when the time factor becomes crucial to protecting the life of a passenger or crew member.

Al-Ghamdi said: “When we talk about the injury of the pilot or his co-pilot, we are facing a big problem, so what about the injury of both of them? Here the matter becomes very dangerous, especially in light of what the video clips circulating after the landing showed.”

He explained that the safety of the pilots during the flight represents an essential element in the safety of the aircraft and those on board, noting that there are precautionary measures aimed at reducing the possibility of the flight crew members being exposed to the same health problem during the flight.

He continued: "If we take into account the measures that prevent pilots from eating the same meal on board, in case of poisoning, we will realize how important the safety of pilots is during the flight, because it directly affects the safety of the plane and those on board."

Regarding the procedures followed when sending a distress call, Al-Ghamdi explained that the priority is to secure the plane and the safety of those on board, regardless of the political circumstances related to the flight or its destination.

He said: “When a distress call is sent from an aircraft, regardless of any political circumstances, full service is provided to the aircraft by the country that received the call, and its safety and the safety of those on board are guaranteed.”

He added that in such cases, the command crew begins preparing the plane for landing, in addition to determining the appropriate path to the alternative airport, according to the nature of the case and the surrounding circumstances.

Regarding the plane landing safely despite the injury of the captain and his co-pilot, Al-Ghamdi pointed out that what was circulated in media reports about the presence of another pilot on board the flight, if confirmed, may be an important factor in completing the landing operation safely.

He said: “What was reported by the news agencies indicates that there was another pilot on board the flight, and this could have a major impact on the plane landing safely,” adding that the circulating clips showed that the two pilots were injured, which raises questions about their ability to carry out the landing normally.

Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk announced that the air control center received at 8:44 am on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, local time, a distress call from flight No. (FZ1073) of Flydubai, requesting an emergency landing at the airport.

After receiving the call, the airport declared a state of emergency and raised the level of alert and readiness to provide the necessary assistance to the plane upon its arrival. About an hour later, the plane landed safely at Tabuk Airport at 9:45 am.

After landing, the plane's captain and co-pilot were found to have been injured, and they were taken to the hospital to receive the necessary medical care, while the concerned authorities provided care for the passengers in the passenger lounge. Coordination was also made with the air carrier to secure an alternative plane for the passengers.

Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport confirmed its commitment to the regulations and instructions issued by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, in accordance with international treaties and agreements related to the safety of air navigation, passengers, and cabin crews, indicating that the competent authorities are continuing investigations to determine the circumstances of the incident.