State Department Confirms Four Americans Were Aboard Dubai-To-Tel Aviv Flight Diverted After Cockpit Attack

WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews) — Four U.S. citizens were among the passengers on a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight that made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a violent clash in the cockpit, the State Department confirmed.​

U.S. officials said they were coordinating with local authorities and were prepared to provide consular assistance as the incident is investigated. The four Americans also hold Israeli nationality, according to two U.S. officials.​

The aircraft, flydubai Flight FZ1073, left Dubai International Airport early Wednesday bound for Ben Gurion Airport. Flight-tracking data showed the Boeing 737 dropped more than 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before transmitting a general emergency signal and, shortly afterward, a code used to report unlawful interference. The jet then diverted and landed at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, in northwestern Saudi Arabia.​

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one of the pilots stabbed the other and appeared to try to crash the plane, which was carrying more than 170 people, nearly all of them Israelis. He said passengers and crew forced their way into the cockpit, overpowered the attacker and prevented what he called a major disaster.​

Netanyahu identified the wounded captain as Smit Machchhar, an Indian citizen, and said the captain fought back despite serious injuries and opened the cockpit door, allowing others to intervene. Israeli officials said additional flydubai pilots traveling on the flight later helped land the aircraft. Saudi airport officials said both the captain and first officer were taken to a hospital.

The motive remained under investigation. Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, described the episode as an attempted jihadist terror attack. Flydubai said an “altercation” occurred on the flight deck and that on-duty crew traveling as passengers helped secure the aircraft. The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority said a security incident had been brought under control. Saudi authorities were questioning the suspected attacker after the landing.​

Israel scrambled fighter jets as the distress signals were received. After several hours on the ground in Tabuk, passengers continued to Israel on a replacement flydubai aircraft and arrived at Ben Gurion Airport later Wednesday. No serious injuries among passengers were reported.​

Netanyahu said he had ordered Israel’s security agencies to prepare for additional threats and to tighten checks on pilots flying into the country. Flydubai later said it was suspending flights to and from Israel pending its investigation.​

The State Department said Washington was working with authorities in the region as the inquiry continued. Officials did not immediately release the names of the four Americans.