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The U.S. State Department said Wednesday that four Americans were aboard a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv that was forced to divert to Saudi Arabia after a cockpit altercation.
A State Department spokesperson told Turkish news agency Anadolu that U.S. officials were in contact with local authorities and prepared to provide consular support to Americans on the flight.
“We are working with local authorities and stand ready to provide consular assistance to any and all Americans aboard the flight,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Consulate in Jeddah were maintaining communication with local authorities as the investigation continued.
“The Trump administration takes seriously our commitment to Americans abroad and stands ready to provide consular assistance,” the spokesperson added.
The confirmation came after reports that an altercation in the cockpit triggered a hijacking code before the aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia.
FlyDubai has said the circumstances and motive behind the incident remain unclear and are being investigated.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the incident.
“It seems as though the co-pilot was perhaps a terrorist, or perhaps a whack-job, and he stabbed the pilot,” Trump said.
Dubai-based budget carrier FlyDubai said Wednesday it had suspended flights to and from Israel after the incident involving flight FZ1073.
“Following the incident involving flight FZ1073 on 30 September, and in coordination with the relevant authorities, FlyDubai flights to and from Israel will be suspended while the investigation continues,” a FlyDubai spokesperson said.
The airline said the suspension was intended to allow authorities to continue their work and “establish all the facts surrounding the incident.”
“The safety and wellbeing of our passengers, crew and operations remain our highest priority,” FlyDubai said.
The carrier said it was coordinating with government authorities, regulators and airport stakeholders and would review the suspension as more information becomes available.
FlyDubai apologized to passengers affected by the suspension and said it was working to provide support and alternative arrangements where possible.
Flight FZ1073, carrying 174 passengers, was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv earlier Wednesday when it made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, northwestern Saudi Arabia.
FlyDubai said “an altercation occurred in the flight deck” and that crew members secured the aircraft before diverting it safely to Saudi Arabia.
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Airport officials said both the captain and first officer were injured and taken to a hospital after the plane landed.
All passengers and crew were reported safe and accounted for.
Saudi Arabia’s National Transport Safety Center said its safety investigation team had started work on the case and was coordinating with relevant authorities to determine what happened, review aviation safety issues and collect evidence.
The airport said passengers later left Tabuk on an alternative aircraft provided by FlyDubai.
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