THE United Arab Emirates (UAE) Attorney-General, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, has ordered an investigation into an incident involving a Flydubai flight that was diverted during a journey from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

The state news agency, WAM, reported on Thursday that Al Shamsi directed a team of specialised public prosecutors to investigate the incident involving Flydubai flight FZ1073.

The aircraft, which departed Dubai for Tel Aviv on Wednesday, was diverted and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Flydubai flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when an altercation broke out between the pilots in the cockpit while the aircraft was flying over Saudi Arabia. The plane, which was cruising at about 34,000 feet, subsequently plunged by nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds, according to Reuters.

Passengers and other crew members intervened, while two reserve pilots travelling on the flight also reportedly helped regain control of the aircraft. The plane was subsequently diverted and made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.

Several passengers on the flight recounted the terrifying experience and said they believed they had thwarted an attempted hijacking.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose country was home to 166 of the 174 passengers on the flight, described the incident as an attempted hijack. He said the co-pilot apparently tried to crash the aircraft.

In one of his social media posts on the incident, Netanyahu wrote: “My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery. Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker – preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster.

The UAE’s order for a probe into the incident followed a statement by Flydubai confirming that an altercation occurred in the cockpit during the flight and that crew members intervened to secure the aircraft.

WAM said the investigation team had commenced work in coordination with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority and other relevant authorities.

According to the agency, investigators will also determine whether the incident was linked to terrorist activity or intent, or involved prior planning or direction.

WAM added that UAE judicial authorities had jurisdiction over the matter because the aircraft was registered in the UAE and operated under the UAE flag.

It noted that UAE law applies to crimes committed on board the aircraft, regardless of whether they occur within or outside the country’s territory.