UN secretary-general António Guterres has condemned the incident involving a Tel Aviv-bound Flydubai flight that made a forced landing in Saudi Arabia after an altercation between pilots in the cockpit.

The UN chief said that a major tragedy was narrowly averted. Mr Guterres expressed concern over the incident involving Flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv before making an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

“The secretary-general is deeply concerned by the serious incident involving a Tel Aviv-bound Flydubai flight,” his spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, said. “He is relieved that tragedy was averted.”

The UN chief condemned actions that could endanger passengers and compromise the safety of international civil aviation.

“The secretary-general strongly condemns any act that places civilian lives and the safety of civil aviation at risk,” Mr Dujarric said.

The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday following what Flydubai described as an altercation on the flight deck. The airline said all passengers were safe and accounted for after the aircraft landed safely.

Israeli officials said the co-pilot stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft before passengers and crew members intervened.

Flydubai and authorities investigating the incident have, however, urged caution while the circumstances and motive are established. Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft descending by nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds during the incident.

According to reports, the aircraft initially transmitted the international emergency code 7700 before changing to code 7500, which signals unlawful interference with an aircraft. Saudi authorities subsequently authorised an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk.

Both pilots were taken to hospital after sustaining injuries during the incident, according to Saudi authorities. Passengers and crew were later transported onward, with those travelling to Israel eventually arriving safely at Ben Gurion International Airport.

Mr Guterres commended the authorities for safely resolving the emergency and investigating what happened aboard the aircraft.

(NAN)