DOMINANT ANGLE
Doha is examining the FZ1073 episode from the perspective of diplomatic channels: an Emirati plane, Israeli passengers, a landing in Tabouk and an evacuation to be organized without official relations between Riyadh and Tel Aviv.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
The codes 7700 and then 7500 appeared about 90 minutes after takeoff, the plane dropping from about 34,000 to less than 17,000 feet in one minute according to Flightradar24 (Al Jazeera Arabic).
- 02
Al Jazeera notes that there is no independent confirmation of a hijacking attempt and that the nationality of the arrested co-pilot has not been verified.
- 03
Netanyahu praised Commander Smit Machchhar for saving 174 people; the Indian embassy in Riyadh says he is hospitalized in Tabouk in a stable condition.
ANALYSIS
Doha, October 1, 2026. Qatar's government is closely following the incident of flydubai flight FZ1073, which transmitted an emergency signal on Wednesday, September 30, and landed at Tabouk airport in northwest Saudi Arabia.
The Qatari viewpoint retains the chronology of events. About 90 minutes after takeoff, the plane was crossing Jordanian airspace when the code 7700 (general emergency) appeared, soon replaced by 7500, which signals an unlawful intervention. According to Flightradar24 data cited by Al Jazeera Arabic, it dropped from about 34,000 feet to less than 17,000 feet in one minute. Passengers cited by AFP describe a feeling of violent turbulence, one of them judging the plane "out of control".
The Israeli account is reported with explicit reserve. Benyamin Netanyahu claims that a pilot stabbed the other and tried to crash the plane; Al Jazeera specifies that there is "no independent confirmation" of an attempted hijacking, and that the nationality of the arrested co-pilot, given as Omani by an Israeli official, has not been verified. The channel also recalls that the Prime Minister had warned the day before against possible attacks before the October 27 elections, and that Yaïr Lapid had called not to "put the public in a panic".
The diplomatic aspect occupies a central place. Al Jazeera Arabic wonders how Saudi Arabia would evacuate 174 Israeli passengers in the absence of official relations with Israel. According to its correspondent, Netanyahu canceled a visit near Gaza to meet with Defense Minister Israel Katz and Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir; the sending of an Israeli military plane was considered, without Saudi agreement. A replacement plane finally brought the passengers back to Ben Gurion, where the crowd welcomed them.
The Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, injured and treated in Tabouk, is presented as stable by the Indian embassy in Riyadh. Netanyahu praises his "extraordinary bravery" and calls him a "true hero" for saving 174 people. Tabouk airport, on the other hand, reported two crew members hospitalized.
SOURCES (2)
- Al Jazeera ArabicMEDIUM
