A quarrel in the cabin and emergency symbols.. What happened to the “Flydubai” plane?

Listen to the article. The audio text is automated, generated by an automated system

The plane, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 operated by Flydubai, was on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv with Israeli passengers on board. During the flight, an accident occurred inside the cockpit, followed by the plane sending emergency signals, before it changed course and made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk.

Most interestingly, the plane first sent code 7700, a general emergency code, then sent 7500, the navigational code used to indicate “unlawful interference” or possible hijacking, before returning to 7700, while flight tracking data showed sharp changes in altitude and course.

In light of the varying accounts, all details of the incident have not yet been officially resolved. Flydubai confirmed that the flight had been involved in an “in-flight accident,” that the plane landed safely, and that all passengers were fine, but it has not announced in its official statement the details of the cause of the accident yet.

The company indicated that the airline will continue to issue further developments and official statements as soon as additional confirmed details are available about the nature of the ambiguous incident.

On the other hand, reports reported that a physical clash occurred between the pilots inside the cockpit. Others spoke of the use of a knife and the occurrence of injuries, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the possibility of a terrorist act. On the other hand, Flydubai did not confirm these accounts in its official statement.

What is certain at the present time is that the plane’s captain and his co-pilot were injured and taken to hospital after landing in Tabuk, according to the installed videos. While Tabuk Airport said that the distress call arrived at 8:44 a.m., then the plane landed safely at 9:45 a.m., while investigations continue to determine the circumstances of the incident.

As for the cause of each of them being injured, who started the clash, and whether one of them deliberately tried to control the plane, these are points that are still under investigation.

Saudi Arabia rejected a request for a plane from Israel to transport passengers to Tel Aviv, according to the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, but Flydubai sent an alternative plane to transport passengers, after Riyadh rejected Tel Aviv's request.

Yedioth Ahronoth: Saudi Arabia refused to allow it to receive an Israeli plane before the passengers departed on Flydubai #Al-Arabiya Urgent

It cannot currently be described as a confirmed kidnapping. Code 7500 means “unlawful interference,” but it does not alone determine the nature of the incident, while the circumstances of the clash inside the cockpit remain the subject of investigation.

This is one of the most important points in the story. Flydubai said that members of its crew were on board the flight, and took control of the plane and its landing in Tabuk, according to reports.

The plane landed at a maximum speed, which led to damage, as pictures showed parts of the plane's tail being shattered, which could have led to a disaster if it had continued to fly for a long time in this condition.

Here the role of the Saudi authorities and Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport appears in immediately dealing with the situation. From the moment the distress call was received, the airport entered a state of alert to deal with the plane, declaring a state of emergency and preparing the necessary response to receive it.

The Flydubai flight landed safely, before the concerned authorities took over the injuries of its two pilots and provided care to the passengers. The airport also coordinated with the air carrier to secure an alternative plane, on which all passengers later departed.

Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in the city of Tabuk announced the departure of all passengers on board the replacement plane, after the emergency landing of Flydubai flight No. (FZ1073), Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

The airport explained, in an accompanying statement, that all passengers departed on the replacement plane at 5:40 p.m.

Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport reaffirmed 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.