Passengers intervened during Flydubai cockpit emergency

Flydubai Flight 1073 made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an incident in the cockpit on its Dubai-to-Tel Aviv route, with passengers helping subdue a suspected attacker and assist an injured captain, according to accounts from people aboard and officials. The sources do not independently establish the suspected copilot’s actions or intent. Saudi aviation operator Cluster2 confirmed that both pilots were injured and hospitalized after the landing. The aircraft sent a distress signal before landing, according to a report on the incident. Passengers said the plane descended sharply during the confrontation, but accounts vary in detail and no flight records were provided to verify the sequence or altitude changes. Passenger Yaniv Hayoun described pulling the suspected attacker out of the cockpit. Accounts say passengers then helped restrain him and restore control of the aircraft. Another pilot aboard took over the controls, according to passenger accounts. The reports do not establish that the suspected copilot intended to crash the plane, despite some descriptions of the incident as an attempted attack.