A plane bound for Tel Aviv had to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia this morning after the pilot was reportedly stabbed at 35,000 feet.
Flydubai flight FZ1073 was two hours into its journey when the incident, which has been named by Israeli prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “terror attack”, unfolded.
There were 174 passengers on board and six crew members, two of whom have been taken to hospital.
Here is what the JC understands happened:
03:05AM (GMT): Take-off from Dubai International Airport.
05:21AM (GMT): Altitude fluctuations begin.
05:22AM (GMT): Aircraft drops more than 14,000 ft in under 30 seconds.
05:31AM (GMT): An emergency call, known as a ‘Squawk’ (code 7700) is made from the plane.
05:38AM (GMT): This general emergency call is changed to an “unlawful interference” (hijack) emergency call (code 7500).
06:11AM (GMT): Traffic controllers lose sight of the aircraft.
06:28AM (GMT): Squawk 7700 received again by ground control via satellite.
06:58AM (GMT): Last signal received via satellite at Tabuk Regional Airport, Saudi Arabia. The plane had landed.
For full story so far as it develops, click here.
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