A second Flydubai aircraft is bringing the Israeli passengers from diverted flight FZ1073 back to Israel Wednesday afternoon, The Zioneer reports. The rescue flight was dispatched to Saudi Arabia after the passengers were stranded following an alleged hijacking attempt earlier today.
The Israeli passengers who were aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 are being returned to Israel on a second Flydubai aircraft sent to Saudi Arabia Wednesday afternoon, The Zioneer reports.
The rescue flight comes hours after the original flight from Dubai to Ben Gurion Airport was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following an alleged hijacking attempt. As The Zioneer reported earlier Wednesday, the copilot reportedly stabbed the captain, and passengers intervened before the aircraft made an emergency landing. Flight data analyzed by The Zioneer showed the aircraft dropped 4,305 meters in 29 seconds at 08:22 Jerusalem time.
Israeli security services—including the Mossad and Shin Bet—opened a joint investigation into the incident, The Zioneer reported at 15:39. The Israel Airports Authority established a dedicated hotline for families of the passengers.
The passengers had remained in Saudi Arabia since the morning while authorities coordinated their return. The second Flydubai aircraft picked them up from Tabuk and is en route to Israel.
2 developments
- ConfirmedIDF scrambles jets after contact lost with an aircraft over Israel
- DevelopingIsraeli fighter jets scramble toward civilian airliner
- DevelopingIntense fighter jet activity reported over Saudi Arabia and Bahrain
- ConfirmedSaudi Arabia opens aviation safety investigation after Flydubai hijacking attempt
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