Guterres ​‌‍‌‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‍​​‌⁠‍‌​condemns FlyDubai incident

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, António Guterres, has condemned the incident involving a Tel Aviv-bound FlyDubai flight that made a forceful landing in Saudi Arabia after an altercation between pilots in the cockpit.
The UN chief said that a major tragedy was narrowly averted.
Guterres expressed deep 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 strongly condemned actions capable of endangering passengers and compromising 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,” 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.
Reports say 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.
Guterres commended authorities involved in safely resolving the emergency and investigating what happened aboard the aircraft.
“The Secretary-General is grateful to all the authorities concerned for ensuring the safety of all passengers and for conducting their investigation,” Dujarric said.
“We will continue to monitor all developments related to this incident.”
Earlier at the UN noon briefing, Dujarric said the world body was following developments surrounding the flight and was thankful that a major tragedy had been avoided.
Israeli authorities have announced plans to strengthen security checks involving pilots flying into the country following the incident.
Investigations by relevant authorities are continuing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the cockpit incident.