Squawk code 7500, pilot stabbed and possible terrorist threat: Flydubai jet survives midair scare

DUBAI: Passengers described a terrifying incident aboard a Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Reports citing Israeli authorities state that the co-pilot stabbed the captain and attempted to take control of the aircraft. Authorities are also investigating a possible terrorist attempt linked with the incident, although initial assessments attributed the event to a violent altercation between the pilots.

Reports indicate that the co-pilot stabbed the captain with a pocket knife. Eyewitnesses reported hearing screams and subsequently seeing blood in the cockpit. Foreign media outlets report that one pilot attempted to crash the plane, but the other pilot, with the assistance of passengers, managed to prevent it. There are also reports that one of the pilots lost consciousness during the incident.

According to passenger statements, the co-pilot—an Omani national—stabbed the captain, a UAE national, and attempted to crash the aircraft. Reports indicate that two additional pilots were on board as passengers; they took control of the plane, averting a potential major disaster, according to Israeli media. The Flydubai flight, carrying 180 passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Israel, thus made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. However, no official details regarding the cause of the incident have been released so far.

The aircraft issued an emergency signal while flying near the Jordan-Saudi border. Reports indicate that the plane initially transmitted the international emergency code 7700 and subsequently entered the squawk code 7500 for a brief period; code 7500 typically signifies a hijacking or unlawful interference on board. The aircraft descended from an altitude of approximately 34,000 feet to 17,000 feet in less than a minute. A sudden increase in speed was also recorded. Although the aircraft climbed slightly thereafter, it subsequently plummeted to an altitude of 14,000 feet.

The report states that the aircraft struggled to maintain a steady altitude for about an hour. It is also reported that Israeli fighter jets intercepted the plane after contact was lost following an emergency signal. Eventually, the aircraft landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.