DOMINANT ANGLE
Bogotá initially considers the theory of a possible attack in the cockpit: the Colombian press relays the Israeli versions, the drop of 14,125 feet in 29 seconds and the account of the passengers.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
The FZ1073 Dubai-Tel Aviv flight made an emergency landing on Wednesday, September 30, in Tabouk (Saudi Arabia); flydubai mentions an "in-flight incident" and passengers who are safe and sound.
- 02
According to Flightradar24, cited by El Colombiano, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 descended from 30,875 to 16,750 feet, a drop of 14,125 feet in 29 seconds.
- 03
Itamar Ben Gvir stated that a "terrorist" wanted to crash the plane and kill the 180 Israelis on board; Netanyahu speaks of a possible attack.
ANALYSIS
Bogotá, October 1, 2026. For the Colombian press, the flydubai FZ1073 flight incident is first seen as a possible attempted attack on board. El Colombiano headlines with a pilot who "allegedly stabbed" his colleague and an investigation opened for "possible terrorist intent". The Antioquia daily specifies that the plane landed on Wednesday in Tabouk, Saudi Arabia, while connecting Dubai to Ben Gurion Airport.
The airline speaks of an "in-flight incident" and assures that all passengers are "safe and sound". This brief statement is quickly overshadowed by Israeli statements. Portafolio recalls that the initial versions mentioned an "altercation between crew members", before an Israeli official stated in the Jerusalem Post that it was an attempted hijacking that avoided "a major catastrophe".
El Colombiano quotes the words of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, according to whom a "terrorist" wanted to crash the plane and kill the 180 Israelis on board. It adds a tracking detail: according to Flightradar24, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 went from 30,875 to 16,750 feet, or 14,125 feet in 29 seconds.
The human story is told through the voices of passengers. Yasmine Abecassis, the mother of a passenger, told AFP that her daughter had told her that a pilot had tried to kill the other with a knife. This passenger was traveling to Israel for a ceremony in memory of her brother, who was killed on October 7, 2023. Miryam Shira Ohayon described a plane "practically out of control" and a thwarted suicide attack thanks to passengers.
The daily devotes an article to Yaniv, a passenger who was received at the airport by Benyamin Netanyahu, who hugged him and said "I see a lion". Yaniv recounts having removed the aggressor from the cockpit and then returned to the controls. Netanyahu claims that the pilot tried to crash the plane and that the case is being treated as a possible attack.
The articles distinguish between Israeli versions and the airline's statement, but do not report the identity or motive of the aggressor, and no Saudi or Emirati source is cited in the provided texts.
SOURCES (2)
- El ColombianoMEDIUM
- Piloto habría apuñalado a su compañero: avión aterrizó de emergencia en Arabia Saudita; se investiga posible intento de terrorismo
- Avión de Flydubai cayó 14.000 pies en 29 segundos mientras un terrorista habría intentado estrellarlo, dice Israel
- Veo un león: Netanyahu recibió al pasajero que sometió al atacante en vuelo de Flydubai
- PortafolioMEDIUM
