Saudi Arabia says Flydubai captain was assaulted by first officer before emergency landing in Tabuk

RIYADH, Oct 1: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior said Thursday that preliminary investigations indicate that the captain of a Flydubai flight was assaulted by his first officer, resulting in injuries to both pilots before the aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk.

An official source at the ministry said Saudi authorities initiated emergency procedures after Flydubai flight FZ1073 declared an emergency and was granted permission to land at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

The aircraft landed safely at 9:45 am carrying 174 passengers and eight crew members, all of whom were provided with the necessary care, the ministry said.

According to the statement, all passengers resumed their journey on a replacement Flydubai aircraft at 5:40 pm, while the flight crew returned to Dubai on another aircraft operated by the airline. The captain and first officer, however, were taken to hospital for treatment based on an assessment of their medical conditions.

The Saudi ministry said preliminary investigations conducted by the competent authorities, with the participation of a security team from the United Arab Emirates, indicated that the first officer assaulted the captain, causing scattered injuries to both.

After their conditions improved and medical approval was granted, the captain and first officer left Saudi Arabia for Abu Dhabi on Thursday, October 1, accompanied by the UAE security team, the ministry said.

The Saudi Ministry of Interior said the Kingdom handles aviation emergencies in accordance with its international and humanitarian obligations and applicable regulations, emphasizing the readiness of its aviation and security systems to respond rapidly and effectively to exceptional situations.