Plane’s sudden altitude drop likely not accidental, expert sayspublished at 13:03 BST

13:03 BST

By Joshua Cheetham

BBC Verify has shared flight-tracking data with aviation experts to better understand what may have happened onboard the Flydubai plane, after it experienced an extreme fall and then rapid fluctuation in altitude in such a short period of time.

The data on Flightradar24 shows the aircraft initially plunged by about 17,000ft (5,200m), climbed 5,000ft and then fell another 7,000ft to settle into a relatively stable altitude of 15,000ft. All of this took place over the course of less than five minutes.

Marco Chan, a senior lecturer in aviation operations at Kingston University, says that while sudden drops in altitude can be caused by incidents like rapid decompression, the plane having transmitted an emergency code for “unlawful interference” suggests the drop was not accidental or down to a technical fault.

While it is still unclear what happened on board, Chan adds that the sudden changes in altitude may have been caused by the pilots jostling for control of the yoke - a wheel-like device that controls the plane’s steering.

Image source, EVN

As we reported earlier, passengers have been telling Israeli media that two pilots sat at the back of the plane helped land the aircraft after the altercation.

Another passenger, Almog Itali, tells the media these two pilots were "relief pilots" who were supposed to be operating a subsequent flight.

One of them was British, Itali says. He adds that the second relief pilot was European but did not specify their nationality.

Itali says the exact details of what happened in the cockpit are unclear but says the relief pilots stabilised the plane and landed it in Saudi Arabia.

"There are quite a few versions," he says after speaking to people from the front of the plane. "What is clear is that there were two pilots in the front - one stabbed the other."

We are yet to hear from officials regarding the details of what occurred on the flight. Earlier, the company that owns Tabuk airport where the plane landed said the captain and first officer had sustained injuries.

What we know:

• Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia around two hours after take-off on Wednesday (see map below)

• An emergency signal - and later a hijacking warning - was set off shortly after an abrupt change of direction and rapid descent. The plane dropped 17,000 feet (5,200m) in just two minutes
• All passengers are safe and accounted for, according to airline Flydubai
• Following a distress call to air traffic control, the flight had an emergency landing at Tabuk airport at 08:44 local time
• The captain of the aircraft and first officer have been taken to hospital, the company that owns the airport says
• Passengers report that a pilot was stabbed in the cockpit. One passenger says two pilots at the back of the plane came forward to help land the plane - this has not been confirmed

And what we don't know:

• The motive of the apparent attack, and the extent of the injuries suffered by the captain and first officer
• The names or nationalities of anyone involved, including the pilots who suffered injuries, and those who landed the plane

• Witnesses describe seeing blood and a knife - but we do not know who attacked whom, or the exact weapon

• We are yet to receive official statements from police, emergency services, or investigators

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Reports are still emerging about what happened on board the Flydubai plane. Here is what witnesses and anonymous officials have said so far.

'They think they are going': There were panicked scenes as the plane plunged 17,000 feet - the mother of one passenger reports her saying "all the people, they scream, they think they are going"

'One pilot stabbed the other': Unnamed officials tell Israeli media that one pilot attacked the other with a knife, seemingly to "either hijack the plane... or crash it" - although it's important to state the motive has not been confirmed, and we are yet to get official statements

'Tied down': An Israeli passenger on board tells journalists the crew asked for help from passengers to tackle the attacker and tie him down

'Covered in blood': Witnesses have described violent scenes - one said "there are people here with shirts covered in blood"

'Take control': Two pilots who were at the back of the plane came forward to help land it, one passenger says: "I shouted at them to run and take control of the plane"

The company that owns Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia - where the plane was diverted - has just put out a statement.

It says both the captain and first officer on the Flydubai plane sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital. It does not state the cause of the injuries.

The airport's air traffic control centre received a distress call from the Flydubai plane at 08:44 local time, the statement says, during which the plane requested an emergency landing

The aircaft landed safely around an hour after, the statement adds.

We're getting reports that a recovery flight is on its way to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, to pick up passengers from the diverted Israel-bound flight.

According to Flightradar24, a separate Flydubai flight (FZ8455) set off from Dubai just before 12:56 local time (09:56 BST) and is due to land in Tabuk at 14:41 local time (12:41 BST).

The flight tracking company says that once the airplane lands in Tabuk, it will take passengers to Tel Aviv, their original destination.

We can now bring you more from Yasmin Abukasis, who has been speaking to journalists from Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, where the plane was due to land.

Yasmin says her daughter, who was on the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, phoned her to say she heard screaming on the plane as a pilot called for help.

"The plane start to lose control. So all the people, they scream, they think they are going," Yasmin tells AP news agency.

Speaking to Reuters, Yasmin says two other pilots took control of the plane as other passengers ran towards a man who had a knife.

You can listen to Yasmin's interview in the video below.

Plane plummeted by 17,000ft in two minutes, data showspublished at 10:47 BST

10:47 BST

By Paul Brown

The flight bound for Tel Aviv dropped extremely rapidly over Saudi Arabia just over two hours after take-off from Dubai, flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 examined by BBC Verify shows.

Just before 05:21 UTC (06:21 BST; 08:21 local time) the plane was cruising at a recorded altitude of 34,000 feet (10,400m).

In less than two minutes it had descended more than 17,000 feet (5,200m).

An emergency signal was issued from the plane about 10 minutes later and the available data shows significant ongoing fluctuations in altitude throughout the rest of the flight to Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.

In an interview with Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom, external, a female passenger describes the "very stressful" moment people on board realised the plane was rapidly descending.

"We understood the pilots lost control," she says, recounting terrified screams from passengers.

She tells the newspaper that one pilot suffered serious stab wounds before the attacker could be dragged off him.

"There are people here with shirts covered in blood," she says, adding: "Now we are fine and want to return home."

• BBC News can not verify this account - this is a developing story, and we will have more details soon

More now from Israeli media, who have been speaking to unnamed Israeli officials.

"A very serious disaster was averted," one of those officials tells Channel 12.

The Jerusalem Post also cites an unnamed Israeli official as saying a "major disaster was narrowly avoided".

More reports are emerging in Israeli media about what unfolded on the Dubai to Tel Aviv flight.

An unnamed passenger tells the Jerusalem Post , externalthat one pilot was stabbed by another, but passengers near the front of the plane helped force the attacker from the cockpit.

The witness says two other pilots were on board, at the back of the plane.

"I shouted at them to run and take control of the plane," the passenger tells the Jerusalem Post.

The passenger also say the injured pilot was given life-saving care by a dentist on the flight.

• BBC News can not verify this account - this is a developing story, and we will have more details soon

Emergency signal sounded for seven minutes before flight changed directionpublished at 10:28 BST

10:28 BST

By Paul Brown

Flight FZ103 from Dubai to Tel Aviv issued an emergency signal for around seven minutes, shortly after an abrupt change of direction and descent over Saudi Arabia, according to data from Flightradar24.

The flight took off at 03:05 UTC (04:05 BST), after a 20-minute delay.

The emergency "squawk" code 7700, declaring a "general emergency" was issued at around 05:31 UTC.

Flightradar24 have since said on X that another emergency signal - 7500, declaring "unlawful interference" - was issued at 05:38, although this is not visible on their website.

The flight briefly entered Jordanian airspace at 05:40 before looping back into Saudi airspace six minutes later.

It began descending again at 06:11 on an apparent course towards Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Location data became temporarily unavailable shortly thereafter, until 06:58, when it re-emerged at Tabuk airport.

We're now getting testimony from passengers, via Reuters.

Yasmin Abukasis tells the news agency that her daughter Miriam was on the flight and that she heard screaming.

Her daughter said a man holding a knife had forced one of the pilots onto the floor, and that there was blood everywhere.

Flydubai confirms its flight "experienced an incident" but says "all passengers are safe and accounted for".

"Flydubai can confirm that flight FZ 1073 operating from Dubai International (DXB) to Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) on 30 September experienced an incident while en route," a statement says.

"The aircraft has landed safely in Tabuk Airport (TUU) and all passengers are safe and accounted for. The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority.

"Our teams are working closely with the relevant authorities. Further updates will be issued as additional confirmed details become available."

Jon Donnison
Middle East correspondent in Jerusalem

It’s reported the alarm was caused after a 'fight' between the pilot and the co-pilot.

An Israeli passenger on board has told journalists the crew asked for help and that passengers then helped tackle one of the pilots and tie him down.

In a statement, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the situation was under control and that efforts were underway to return the Israeli passengers home from Saudi Arabia.

Image source, Flightradar24/Reuters

A flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a "fight" between the pilots, Israeli officials have told local media.

The Flydubai plane - which took off from Dubai International Airport early on Wednesday - signalled an emergency code two hours into the journey, flight tracking website Flightradar24 says.

Minutes later it switched to a code used to report a hijacking, but was later turned back to the general emergency signal.

The emergency signal is thought to have been issued following an "altercation" between the pilot and co-pilot, local media reports, citing Israeli defence officials.

Flight FZ1073 - carrying about 150 people, most of whom are Israeli - was due to land at Ben-Gurion Airport but instead landed at Tabuk Airport in north-eastern Saudi Arabia.

This is a developing story - we'll have more details soon.