Flydubai flight diverts to Saudi Arabia after cockpit altercation

A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after what the airline described as an altercation in the cockpit. The aircraft, operating flight FZ 1073, descended from 34,000 feet to about 19,000 feet in roughly 90 seconds during the episode, according to accounts of the event. The crew diverted to Tabuk airport.

The operator of Saudi Arabia's airports said the captain and the first officer were injured and taken to a hospital. Flydubai said all passengers and crew were accounted for and safe after landing.

Accounts of what happened differ. Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, described the event as an attempted "jihadist terrorist attack," which he said was thwarted by the heroism of several Israeli passengers who entered the cockpit, subdued the attacker and returned control of the aircraft to another crew member.

Flydubai confirmed an altercation in the cockpit and said its own crew brought the situation under control. The airline called for speculation to be avoided while the matter is clarified.

No further details on the condition of the two pilots were provided beyond their transfer to hospital.