DOMINANT ANGLE
Moscow is interpreting the flydubai incident mainly through Israeli sources: an attempted attack similar to 11 September, then a denial of the theory of a Russo-Ukrainian crew.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
The flight issued code 7700 then 7500 before landing in Tabouk, with 174 passengers including 27 children according to RT and Meduza.
- 02
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the incident as an attempted attack aimed at downing the plane, according to RIA Novosti.
- 03
Flydubai is suspending its flights to and from Israel during the investigation, following a request from Minister Miri Regev (Vedomosti).
ANALYSIS
Moscow, October 1, 2026. Russian media is following the incident of the flydubai FZ1073 flight through Israeli sources, with an emphasis on the threat of an attack. TASS recalls that the plane initially issued code 7700 (general emergency), then code 7500 (hijacking), before landing in Tabouk, Saudi Arabia. RT specifies that the Boeing 737 was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children, and would have lost about 4,500 meters of altitude in one minute; Israel scrambled fighter jets.
Russian media is devoting extensive coverage to the qualification of the drama. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz speaks of a "terrorist attempt", relayed by RIA Novosti; according to Meduza, he mentions a "jihadist terrorist attempt". TASS quotes the Israeli embassy in Moscow, which sees an attack targeting Israel, the Emirates, and the idea of the Abraham Accords. The Telegraph, picked up by TASS and Meduza, evokes a "9/11-type scenario" with a Tel Aviv tower as a possible target. Donald Trump, quoted by RIA, says the second pilot was "perhaps a terrorist or a madman", then tells the story of an Israeli plumber saving the plane.
One episode directly affects Russia: the initial Israeli accounts attributed the controls to Russian and Ukrainian pilots, a version relayed by Sputnik and headlined by Moskovskij Komsomolets. Meduza judges that "it seems this is not true", and several sources then mention Omani and Emirati pilots. Flydubai refuses to disclose their nationalities, according to The National quoted by TASS. Hindustan Times, picked up by TASS, identifies the injured commander: Indian Smit Machchhar, captain since June 2022.
Vedomosti details the aftermath: Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev has requested the suspension of flydubai flights, estimating that the company had violated the air agreement by assigning an Omani pilot, a country without diplomatic relations with Israel. Flydubai then suspended its flights to and from Israel during the investigation. RIA describes the welcome of passengers in Tel Aviv, with flags and chants, and Netanyahu hugging an Israeli named Yaniv, whom he calls a hero.
SOURCES (6)
- SputnikMEDIUM
- VedomostiMEDIUM
- RIA NovostiMEDIUM
