flydubai has confirmed that flight FZ 1073, operating from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia on 30 September after a safety incident in the flight deck. All 172 passengers and crew on board are safe.
CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith addressed the incident in a statement, saying he was “relieved to confirm that all 172 passengers and crew on board are safe and being cared for.” He added that the captain, who was directly involved in the incident, has since returned to the UAE following medical clearance.
Al Ghaith commended the flight crew for their response. “I would like to commend the professionalism and dedication shown by our Captain, and the pilots who secured the aircraft and landed it safely as well as the cabin crew,” he said, also thanking passengers who assisted the crew during the diversion.
The airline has temporarily suspended all operations to Tel Aviv until further notice. Al Ghaith said teams are working to support affected passengers and help them reach their destinations.
A formal investigation is underway, led by the relevant authorities with flydubai’s full cooperation. Al Ghaith said it was important to allow the process to establish the facts before further comment.
The airline thanked Saudi Arabian authorities for their response, as well as UAE authorities and stakeholders who supported the return of customers and crew.
