flydubai nightmare: Videos capture cries, screams amid pilots' brawl, altitude drop

New visuals from inside a flydubai aircraft capture the panic and confusion among passengers during a mid-air cockpit confrontation that triggered fears of a hijacking and forced the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

The shaky handheld footage shows passengers shifting in their seats, people moving through the aisles and visible distress inside the cabin as the situation unfolded.

Cries and screams can be heard in the background, while passengers appear to be trying to understand what was happening.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was operating as flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv with around 180 passengers on board when a violent confrontation between the captain and co-pilot unfolded inside the cockpit.

The flight later landed safely at Tabuk Airport in northern Saudi Arabia.

First visuals recorded after the landing showed Israeli passengers chanting Od Avinu Chai, meaning “Our Father still lives”, as they expressed relief following the frightening ordeal.

FLIGHT TRANSMITS HIJACK CODE

Flight-tracking data showed that FZ1073 first transmitted code 7700, indicating a general emergency. Seconds later, it transmitted code 7500, an international signal indicating a possible hijacking or unlawful interference.

The aircraft also descended sharply from around 34,000 feet to approximately 16,600 feet in just over two minutes. Flightradar24 data shared online showed its ground speed briefly exceeding 590 knots during the emergency.

The exact reason for the descent has not been established.

Israel and Saudi Arabia scrambled fighter jets after the emergency signals were transmitted, according to reports.

REPORTS OF COCKPIT BRAWL

Israeli journalist and analyst Amit Segal reported that the co-pilot - from Oman - repeatedly stabbed the captain during the confrontation.

A passenger, Miriam told Reuters that she heard screams from the cockpit around two hours into the flight.

She said she saw one of the pilots injured after the cockpit door opened, with a folding knife nearby.

Videos and photographs from inside the aircraft also showed blood on at least one passenger's clothing.

Reports have further claimed that the confrontation began after one of the pilots attempted to crash the aircraft and that the other pilot was able to restrain him with help from passengers.

These details have not been independently confirmed, and the precise sequence of events remains under investigation.

Israeli passenger Yitzhak Lieber said in a message recorded for his children that he and other passengers helped overpower the co-pilot after the pilot was seriously injured.

“It was a very difficult incident. You have a heroic dad,” Lieber said.

SECOND PILOT TEAM HELPS LAND PLANE

A second pair of pilots travelling on the aircraft reportedly helped bring the plane down safely after the cockpit confrontation.

According to The Times of Israel, the additional pilots helped land the aircraft at Tabuk as the flight was diverted to Saudi Arabia.

The emergency landing brought an end to a chaotic flight that began in Dubai and was bound for Tel Aviv. The first visuals from inside the aircraft after landing showed passengers chanting Od Avinu Chai as the immediate crisis came to an end.

The circumstances surrounding the cockpit confrontation and the events that led to the emergency remain under investigation.

ISRAEL AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OPENS INFO AREA

The Israel Airports Authority has opened a dedicated waiting and information area at Ben Gurion Airport for families of passengers aboard the Flydubai flight that made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

The facility was opened following a directive from Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev and is located in the domestic arrivals hall of Terminal 1 at Ben Gurion Airport.

Family members wishing to come to the airport have been asked to proceed to the designated area, where they will be able to wait and receive updates as more information becomes available.

Representatives of the Israel Airports Authority will be present at the site to assist the families and provide necessary support.

The authority has also appealed to members of the public who are not relatives of passengers on the flight to refrain from visiting the area, saying this would allow officials to provide families with orderly and appropriate assistance.