Flydubai pilots flew to the UAE after cockpit altercation — Asharq Al-Awsat

In Saudi Arabia, the captain and first officer of Flydubai flight FZ1073, which made an emergency landing in Tabuk, flew to Abu Dhabi on October 1 accompanied by a United Arab Emirates security team. Before that, both pilots were taken to a local hospital for medical examination and treatment, Asharq Al-Awsat reports.

Emergency landing in Tabuk

An official source at Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior said that on September 30, the country’s authorities received a report of an emergency on board the aircraft and authorized it to make an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk.

The aircraft landed safely at 9:45. There were 174 passengers and eight crew members on board, who were provided with the necessary logistical and medical assistance. At 17:40, the passengers continued their journey on a replacement Flydubai aircraft.

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Saudi authorities’ version

According to a preliminary investigation conducted by Saudi authorities in coordination with the UAE security team, an altercation occurred in the aircraft’s cockpit. The Saudi side claims that the first officer attacked the captain, resulting in injuries to both of them.

Flight FZ1073 was traveling from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv. According to the WAM news agency, UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi ordered the formation of an investigative team to establish the circumstances of the incident. It is working jointly with the General Civil Aviation Authority and other competent UAE bodies.

Investigators are to collect evidence, establish the motives and details of the event, and determine whether the incident was linked to terrorist activity or was premeditated or directed by someone. The investigation is ongoing.