ع
The National Transport Safety Center announced the launch of a safety investigation after receiving a report on the flydubai incident that forced the diversion of flight FZ1073 to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport. According to the NTSC, an aviation safety investigation team has been deployed to Tabuk to determine the sequence of events, collect evidence and assess all relevant safety factors surrounding the emergency landing. The center is coordinating with UAE authorities as part of the standard protocol for incidents involving foreign carriers, its statement indicated. This inquiry forms part of broader efforts to maintain high standards in regional aviation safety.
The airport authority stated that air traffic control received a distress signal from the Boeing 737 aircraft at 8:44 a.m. local time on September 30, with the plane landing safely just over an hour later. Both the captain and first officer suffered injuries during the event and required hospital treatment, the airport said in its update. Data from Flightradar24 showed the flight descending rapidly from over 30,000 feet and transmitting successive emergency codes before the diversion was completed. All passengers aboard the Tel Aviv-bound flight remained unharmed throughout the episode.
Flydubai said in a statement that an altercation took place in the flight deck, prompting crew members who were traveling on the aircraft to secure it and assist with the diversion to Tabuk. The Dubai-based airline noted that two replacement aircraft were sent to the Saudi city to continue the journey for the 174 passengers and crew once the situation was resolved. It added that the underlying reasons for the incident were not yet known and would be subject to a full investigation by the appropriate bodies. The carrier called on everyone to refrain from speculation until official findings are released.
UAE aviation officials have also opened a parallel review, with the General Civil Aviation Authority describing it as a security incident that was brought under control. A statement from the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia confirmed that one of the pilots is an Indian national and that consular support was extended following the hospitalization. Reports citing regional officials indicated that Israeli authorities had scrambled fighter aircraft amid initial concerns over the flight’s erratic path and transponder signals. The coordinated response across multiple countries highlights the integrated safety and security frameworks in place for Gulf airspace.
Airport officials confirmed that all passengers and crew were accounted for and transferred to replacement aircraft that departed Tabuk later in the day. The original plane remained at the Saudi facility as part of the ongoing investigation process. The National Transport Safety Center has not disclosed additional specifics about the evidence being examined or when initial conclusions might be expected from its team in Tabuk.
