DOMINANT ANGLE
Montevideo is examining the FZ1073 incident from a security perspective: between the thesis of an attack put forward by Israel and an official version that is still absent, the Uruguayan press details the 5,000-meter fall and the alert codes.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
According to Flightradar24, the plane lost around 5,000 meters in a few minutes near the Jordanian border, with the transmission of codes 7700 and then 7500 (El Observador).
- 02
Netanyahu stated that one pilot had stabbed the other and seemed to want to crash the plane; he is to be questioned by Saudi authorities (El Observador, BBC).
- 03
The passengers entered the cockpit and subdued the copilot, who is Omani according to El Observador, while the captain, Smit Machchhar, was injured.
ANALYSIS
Montevideo, October 1, 2026. Uruguayan media covered the emergency landing in Tabouk, Saudi Arabia, of flydubai's FZ1073 flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, starting on Wednesday, September 30. El Observador, quoting a dispatch, mentions a possible attack and a "violent confrontation between the pilots," but warns that information on what happened in the cabin "continues to be confusing" and lacks a definitive official version.
The account relies heavily on Israeli statements. According to the BBC, as reported by El Observador, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that one pilot stabbed the other and "apparently tried to crash the plane," and that he was being questioned by Saudi authorities. Defense Minister Israel Katz spoke of a "jihadist terrorist attack attempt." Subrayado, citing AFP, reports the comments of Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who said a terrorist wanted to kill "the 180 Israelis on board."
Technical details occupy a significant place. According to Flightradar24, the aircraft suddenly turned north before the Jordanian border and lost about 5,000 meters in a few minutes. The emergency code 7700 was issued, followed by 7500, which signals an unlawful intervention. El Observador interviewed Uruguayan pilot Diego López de Haro, who mentions a descent to 17,000 feet per minute, approximately 17 times a normal rate, and an aircraft close to its structural speed limits. He emphasizes that this is a "developing story."
The human dimension comes through testimonials. Montevideo Portal quotes the mother of a passenger, who was reached at Ben Gurion Airport: passengers, alerted by cries, entered the cockpit and subdued the man; there was "a lot of blood" and they thought they would die. Videos show the injured captain, assisted with an oxygen mask, and the copilot, an Omani national according to El Observador, immobilized by the travelers. La Diaria, citing The Guardian, notes that both pilots were hospitalized and mentions an Omani copilot and an Emirati.
The versions vary on the numbers and roles: 180 passengers for most headlines, an Israeli ministry that initially spoke of a "crew altercation." None of the media outlets report the suspension of flydubai flights to Israel, nor an official Uruguayan position.
SOURCES (4)
- SubrayadoMEDIUM
- Montevideo PortalMEDIUM
- La DiariaMEDIUM
- El ObservadorMEDIUM
- Investigan un posible atentado terrorista: un vuelo entre Dubái y Tel Aviv aterriza de emergencia tras un violento ataque entre los pilotos
- Qué se sabe sobre el apuñalamiento en un vuelo rumbo a Israel que califican como un “intento de atentado terrorista”
- Ataque en cabina, caída en picada y daños en el avión: piloto uruguayo explica cómo se evitó una tragedia en vuelo de Flydubai a 10.000 metros de altura
