The extraordinary drama aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv became a major international story Wednesday, with some of the world’s largest news organizations reporting on the violent cockpit altercation, the aircraft’s terrifying plunge and its emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

While Israeli media provided extensive minute-by-minute coverage, major international outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, BBC, CNN and the Daily Mail focused on various aspects of the incident.

At the same time, coverage in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates was markedly more restrained, relying heavily on official statements and largely avoiding the dramatic details being reported elsewhere.

The Washington Post focused on the violent confrontation inside the cockpit and the emergency signals transmitted by the aircraft, including the hijacking code that prompted Israel to scramble fighter jets.

The BBC reported on the transmission of the 7500 hijacking code as the aircraft flew in the region, its subsequent diversion to Tabuk, and initial reports concerning the extraordinary confrontation inside the cockpit.

CNN focused heavily on the Israeli security response, including emergency consultations involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, as Israeli authorities attempted to determine exactly what was unfolding aboard the aircraft.

The Daily Mail highlighted the terrifying passenger accounts, the aircraft’s dramatic loss of altitude, the blood seen around the cockpit and the intervention of passengers and additional crew members aboard the flight.

The New York Times also covered the flight’s diversion from its Dubai-to-Tel Aviv route and the confrontation between the pilots that preceded the emergency signals and eventual landing in Saudi Arabia.

But the tone was dramatically different closer to where the incident unfolded.

Major media outlets in the United Arab Emirates largely stuck to official statements from flydubai and aviation authorities, focusing on the safe diversion and subsequent investigation rather than the more dramatic allegations surrounding what occurred inside the cockpit.

Coverage reportedly placed particular emphasis on the fact that the passengers and crew were accounted for and that authorities were investigating the incident.

Saudi coverage was similarly restrained.

Local reports focused largely on the response by Saudi aviation authorities and Tabuk Airport, including the safe reception of the aircraft and medical and logistical assistance provided following the emergency landing.

The identity of the predominantly Israeli passengers and the more explosive allegations surrounding the cockpit confrontation received far less emphasis than in Israeli and Western coverage, according to the report.

Flydubai itself has now confirmed that an “altercation occurred in the flight deck” but has cautioned against drawing conclusions about the motive.

“At this early stage, the underlying reasons and motives behind this event are unknown and remain subject to a formal investigation,” the airline said.

(YWN Israel Desk — Jerusalem)