Flydubai Incident: ‘Mystery Pilots’ Who Saved Plane Were Deadheading to Dubai, Passenger Reveals

The two unidentified pilots who stepped in to control a Flydubai aircraft during a mid-air emergency were travelling as passengers as part of a routine practice known as “deadheading”, according to passenger Daniel Schlichter. The pilots were reportedly scheduled to operate the aircraft on its return journey from Tel Aviv to Dubai, which is why they were travelling on the flight. When the cockpit crisis unfolded, they moved in after passengers gained access to the cockpit and the co-pilot was subdued.

Schlichter, who was seated near the front of the aircraft, said one of the additional pilots entered the cockpit and took control of the aircraft, followed by the second pilot. The pair then secured the cockpit and worked to stabilise the plane after its steep descent. After around 45 minutes, passengers were informed that the aircraft would make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Flydubai has so far described the two as on-duty crew members travelling on the flight but has not publicly disclosed their identities.