‘Whoever is hearing me, we need help’: how flight 1073 survived its 5,000-metre plunge

On morning service from Dubai to Tel Aviv, 150 passengers witnessed a horrific cockpit assault, flight plummet and daring rescue

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As flight FZ 1073 soared west over the waters of the Gulf towards Israel, its passengers may have bemoaned a 20-minute delay at takeoff.

For a low-cost airline route, flydubai’s daily service to Tel Aviv is usually convenient and reliable. The nonstop flight takes about three and a half hours, and departs early enough from Dubai that it usually lands at Ben Gurion airport at about 9am local time.