A passenger aboard Flight FZ1073 has described the terrifying moments when the aircraft plunged thousands of feet during an apparent cockpit confrontation involving the pilot and co-pilot.
Almog Itali told the BBC that the sudden descent felt like being on a rollercoaster as passengers experienced an alarming loss of altitude.
The aircraft had been travelling towards Israel when the incident unfolded, turning an otherwise routine journey into a dramatic in-flight emergency.
Plane Plunges 17,000 Feet
According to the account, the aircraft dropped approximately 17,000 feet (5,200 metres) in less than two minutes.
The rapid descent left passengers facing an intensely frightening situation as the plane lost altitude at a dramatic rate.
Itali described the experience in terms of a rollercoaster, highlighting the severity of the aircraft’s sudden movement.
Alleged Cockpit Attack Sparks Chaos
The incident reportedly began after the pilot allegedly stabbed his co-pilot while the aircraft was in flight.
Details surrounding what happened inside the cockpit remain subject to investigation, but the reported confrontation prompted an extraordinary response from those aboard the aircraft.
Several passengers reportedly became involved in efforts to help regain control of the situation.
Passengers Reportedly Helped Take Control
As the emergency unfolded, passengers were said to have taken action to help manage the aircraft.
Two other pilots who were reportedly travelling at the rear of the plane subsequently came forward and assisted with efforts to land the aircraft safely.
Their intervention came as the aircraft was diverted away from its original destination.
Flight Diverted to Saudi Arabia
Flight FZ1073 was ultimately diverted to Saudi Arabia following the emergency.
The diversion allowed the aircraft to land after the reported cockpit incident and dramatic loss of altitude.
For passengers such as Itali, the experience was a frightening departure from an ordinary commercial flight, with the sudden plunge and events inside the cockpit creating a potentially catastrophic situation.
Investigation Expected to Establish What Happened
The circumstances surrounding the alleged stabbing and the aircraft’s rapid descent are expected to be examined as authorities investigate the incident.
The passenger account provides a glimpse into the experience inside the cabin, where those aboard were confronted with a sudden and unexplained emergency high above the ground.
Further details about the condition of the pilot and co-pilot, the precise sequence of events in the cockpit and how the aircraft was ultimately brought under control are expected to emerge as the investigation continues.
