Watch: Flydubai passengers terrified as sudden dive forces landing in Tabuk

Flydubai Flight FZ1073, carrying approximately 150 Israeli passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was forced to execute an emergency diversion to Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia following a severe in-flight crisis. Flightradar24 data showed the Boeing 737 plunged nearly 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds before broadcasting general emergency and unlawful interference signals over Jordanian airspace. While Israeli officials attributed the emergency signals to a physical altercation between the pilots, passenger accounts reported a passenger threatening a pilot with a knife. The aircraft landed safely in Saudi territory, triggering an immediate security response across regional intelligence networks while airline representatives confirmed all passengers were safe following the ordeal.Updated - September 30, 2026 05:28 pm IST