The captain and co-pilot of a flydubai flight that made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia were transferred to Abu Dhabi on the morning of October 1 after their health improved, following a joint initial investigation by Saudi and UAE authorities. flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 passengers and eight crew members on board, landed safely at Tabuk airport at 9:45am on September 30, with both the captain and co-pilot subsequently hospitalised for medical treatment following an onboard assault.

Preliminary findings by Saudi authorities, with the participation of a UAE security team, indicated that the co-pilot assaulted the captain, leaving both pilots injured during the flight. Two replacement aircraft were sent to Tabuk later that day, allowing passengers to continue their journey on a flydubai aircraft at 5:40pm while other crew members returned to Dubai on a separate flight.

The two pilots left Saudi Arabia accompanied by UAE security officials after receiving medical clearance, and further questioning is expected in Abu Dhabi as authorities continue their investigation.