Flydubai Flight FZ1073 reportedly faced another terrifying obstacle even after passengers had subdued the co-pilot accused of trying to crash the Israel-bound jet: the crippled aircraft’s initial requests for permission to make an emergency landing were rejected by both Saudi Arabia and Jordan despite a mayday call reporting an attempted hijacking and requesting ambulances on the ground.

The extraordinary account adds a new dimension to the ordeal aboard the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight, which plunged more than 16,000 feet after the co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit. With Machchhar badly wounded and passengers screaming in the cabin, reserve pilots aboard the aircraft took control and desperately searched for somewhere to land.

According to a person familiar with the air traffic control communications, a trembling voice from aboard FZ1073 contacted Saudi controllers and declared “Mayday,” reporting the attempted hijacking and advising authorities that ambulances would be needed when the aircraft landed.

The emergency transmission came after passengers had rushed the cockpit and helped overpower the co-pilot, who Israeli officials say deliberately tried to bring down the Boeing 737 MAX 8 as it traveled toward Tel Aviv.

Machchhar, an Indian national and veteran Flydubai captain, had suffered serious wounds to his head, arm and torso during the attack. Videos and photographs from aboard the aircraft showed blood throughout the cockpit area as passengers attempted to help the injured captain.

At the same time, the aircraft had undergone a horrifying series of altitude changes. Flight-tracking data shows that FZ1073 had been cruising at approximately 34,000 feet when it suddenly plunged to around 16,600 feet in little more than 30 seconds, followed by additional violent climbs and descents.

The aircraft also transmitted two internationally recognized emergency transponder codes during the crisis: 7700, indicating a general emergency, followed by 7500, the code used to signal unlawful interference or a hijacking.

The person who heard the communications said screams from passengers could be heard in the background of the mayday transmission while those aboard struggled to stabilize the aircraft.

Despite the reported plea for an immediate landing, Saudi controllers initially did not allow the aircraft to land and instead directed it toward Jordanian airspace, according to the account.

The reserve pilots who had taken control of the aircraft then sought authorization to land in Jordan. They were reportedly told that clearance from the Jordanian military would be required.

After waiting several minutes, however, the aircraft was reportedly denied permission to land there as well.

That left the pilots with no choice but to turn back toward Saudi Arabia and make another request for emergency landing clearance as the wounded captain required urgent medical treatment and the alleged attacker remained restrained aboard the aircraft.

On the second approach, Saudi authorities granted permission for FZ1073 to land at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk.

The aircraft touched down safely in Tabuk at approximately 9:45 a.m. local time, bringing an end to the airborne portion of an ordeal that had begun with what investigators now believe was a deliberate attack inside the cockpit.

Saudi Arabia has since issued its own official account of the emergency response. The Saudi Interior Ministry said authorities took the necessary measures after an emergency was declared aboard FZ1073 and granted the aircraft clearance to make an emergency landing in Tabuk.

The Saudi statement did not address the separate report that an earlier request to land had initially been denied, and no official explanation has been publicly provided for the reported first refusal or for the reported denial of landing clearance in Jordan.

Saudi authorities said 174 passengers and eight crew members were aboard the aircraft when it landed. Of the passengers, 166 were Israelis.

Once the plane was safely on the ground, Machchhar and the accused co-pilot were taken to a hospital for medical treatment. Saudi authorities subsequently said their preliminary investigation, conducted together with an Emirati security team, determined that the co-pilot had assaulted the captain and that both men suffered injuries.

Machchhar’s actions during the attack have since drawn widespread praise. Despite being seriously wounded, the captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and other crew members to enter and overpower the attacker.

Passengers then restrained the co-pilot while additional qualified pilots traveling aboard FZ1073 assumed control and worked to stabilize the aircraft.

The UAE has since characterized the incident as an act of terror, while investigators are examining whether the co-pilot acted alone, planned the attack in advance or was acting under the direction of another party.

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu said Friday that investigators believe the co-pilot had undergone Islamist radicalization and intended to crash the aircraft with everyone aboard.

“As time passes, the picture becomes clearer. Yaniv and his brave friends averted another 9/11,” Netanyahu said. “The attacker underwent Islamist radicalization; he came to crash the plane with everyone inside. We are investigating whether he was sent, and whoever sent him will pay a very heavy price.”

The co-pilot, an Omani national whose identity has not been publicly released, was transferred Thursday from Saudi Arabia to Abu Dhabi, where UAE authorities are leading the investigation into his motive and any possible outside connections.

Machchhar was also transferred to Abu Dhabi after being medically cleared to travel and is continuing his recovery there. Indian officials have said he is in stable condition and recovering well from his injuries.

Saudi authorities said all passengers and crew received assistance following the emergency landing. At approximately 5:40 p.m., the passengers continued their journey aboard a replacement Flydubai aircraft, while the original crew returned separately to Dubai.

Some passengers were initially reluctant to board another Flydubai aircraft after what they had just endured, but they eventually continued their journey and arrived safely at Ben Gurion Airport hours after the attempted attack.

The latest disclosures mean the passengers of FZ1073 apparently faced two distinct crises in succession: first surviving an alleged attempt by a member of the flight crew to bring down their aircraft, and then, according to the reported air traffic control account, confronting uncertainty over where the damaged plane would be permitted to make its emergency landing.

{Matzav.com}