- Affected country
- Saudi Arabia
- Location / route
- Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport (Tabuk) / Dubai-Tel Aviv route
- Official source
- Google News — Middle East travel disruption
- Published by source
- October 1, 2026 12:55 AM CST
- Effective period
- September 30, 2026 9:00 AM CST
- Last verified
- October 5, 2026 12:12 AM CST
- Status
- Resolved
Official guidance
Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport management confirmed that all passengers from the diverted flight departed the kingdom on onward replacement flights.
Summary of official information. Always check the official source and follow the guidance of the authorities. UECN does not issue risk ratings; the absence of an alert does not mean that a destination is safe.
Update — October 5, 2026 12:12 AM CST: On September 30, 2026, Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following an in-flight cockpit struggle. Flydubai dispatched a replacement aircraft to evacuate the stranded passengers, though some travelers initially hesitated to reboard the carrier. Tabuk airport authorities later confirmed that all passengers departed Saudi Arabia for their final destination.
Update — October 1, 2026 11:08 PM CST: The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has issued a Conflict Zone Information Bulletin recommending that European airlines avoid flying at all altitudes within a designated sector of the Jeddah Flight Information Region. The advisory, designated CZIB-2026-09, cites heightened operational hazards from regional drone and missile activity. The advisory remains in effect until 16 November 2026, while Saudi Arabia's airspace remains open to commercial traffic.
Flydubai flight FZ1073, en route from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, diverted to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, northwestern Saudi Arabia, according to The Traveler. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was carrying an estimated 170 to 180 passengers, many of whom were Israeli nationals.
Publicly available flight-tracking data and regional media reports indicated that the aircraft transmitted transponder code 7500, which indicates possible unlawful interference, and descended rapidly before turning away from Israeli airspace. Multiple international news reports cited a serious cockpit altercation that left both pilots injured, prompting Israeli Air Force jets to follow the aircraft until it touched down safely on Saudi territory.
Airport management in Tabuk stated through official communications that a distress call was received shortly before 9:00 a.m. local time. Flydubai confirmed in a public statement that the aircraft experienced an incident while en route and landed safely in Tabuk, reporting that all passengers and crew members were safe and accounted for.
With the original aircraft grounded for technical review and investigations, Flydubai dispatched a second aircraft from Dubai to Tabuk after coordinating with Saudi aviation authorities. The replacement aircraft was deployed to collect the stranded travelers and operate the continuation leg to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
Revision history
- Resolved Official update applied: On September 30, 2026, Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing at Prince…
- Updated Official update applied: The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has issued a Conflict Zone Information Bulletin recommending that European airlines avoid…
- Active Published automatically from the official source
Sources
- thetraveler.org · 2026-09-30
- Gemini News Search — Middle East Travel Alerts · 2026-10-01
