FlyDubai’s 2 Pilots Were Fighting Mid-Air, Then Who Landed Aircraft? Meet 2 Off-Duty Heroes Who Kept 180 On-Board Safe

Flydubai’s Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv witnessed a harrowing incident as a co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to intentionally crash the aircraft, according to reports.
Amid the pandemonium, who ensured safe landing of the aircraft in Saudi Arabia? A second team of off-duty flydubai pilots who were traveling as passengers stepped in to safely land the aircraft.

WHAT HAPPENED MID-AIR?

Approximately two hours into the flight, the Omani co-pilot allegedly attempted to seize complete control of the flight deck with the intention of crashing the plane. The co-pilot drew a knife, forcing the Emirati captain onto the floor during the scuffle. The captain was stabbed and suffered injuries while fiercely fighting to stop the plane’s controls from

being manipulated. During the intense struggle for the flight deck controls, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 went into a terrifying, erratic dive, plummeting 17,400 feet in less than two minutes. This dramatic altitude drop triggered widespread panic and screaming in the passenger cabin. The cockpit broadcast emergency transponder code 7700 (general emergency) before briefly switching to 7500, the international aviation code for a hijacking or unlawful interference. This prompted the Israeli Air Force to scramble fighter jets and temporarily shut down Ben Gurion Airport. Alerted by the screaming and the plane’s wild movements, cabin crew members and several passengers forced their way into the cockpit. They managed to overpower the rogue co-pilot, pull him out of the cockpit, and tie him down. Both the captain and the co-pilot survived the mid-air brawl but sustained significant injuries and were immediately hospitalized upon landing at Tabuk Airport.

Passengers broke into applause after a Flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following a tense cockpit incident. Two off-duty pilots travelling as passengers reportedly stepped in to help the crew regain control of the aircraft before the safe landing.… pic.twitter.com/i7L2jcw9Mn

— News18 (@CNNnews18) September 30, 2026

WHO HELPED LAND THE PLANE?

The two off-duty flydubai pilots who were flying as regular passengers at the back of the aircraft took control of the cockpit. Together with other passengers and cabin crew, they helped restrain the rogue co-pilot before taking over the flight deck controls to guide the Boeing 737 MAX 8, with at least 174-180 on-board, to a safe emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
Passengers broke into applause after the flight landed safely.

WHY WERE THEY IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES?

They were wearing civilian clothes because they were deadheading or traveling as standard passengers, meaning they were not part of the active working flight crew for that specific journey. It is routine in aviation for off-duty airline pilots to occupy passenger seats while repositioning to another city or commuting.

WHO WERE THEY?

While the specific names of the two heroic off-duty passenger pilots have not been publicly disclosed by flydubai or aviation authorities, the identities of the original fighting cockpit crew are under active investigation:
The Captain: An Emirati national from the United Arab Emirates, who suffered stab wounds while stopping the plane’s steep initial plunge.
The Co-Pilot (Attacker): An Omani national who is being investigated by intelligence and security agencies for a potential suicide attempt or terrorism angle.