Flydubai pilots falsely labeled Russian and Ukrainian after joke

Footage, allegedly from a FlyDubai aircraft, shows a fight between pilots. As Israeli media reports, the aircraft was being flown by two pilots—one of Ukrainian origin and the other from Russia.

Consensus

A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on September 30.
The flight experienced an incident on board, including a signal of distress and a threat of hijacking.
The pilots were involved in a physical altercation, with one pilot allegedly attacking the other with a knife.
The captain sustained serious stab wounds to the head and hands.
Passengers and crew intervened to stop the attacker.
The aircraft was brought under control and landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
Israeli authorities are investigating the incident as a potential terrorist act.
The pilot who attacked was a citizen of Oman, and the captain was a citizen of the UAE.
The false claim about the pilots being Russian and Ukrainian originated from a joke in a WhatsApp chat among journalists.
A journalist in the chat made the joke, which was later repeated by a TV host and spread by other media.
The journalist later admitted the statement was not true.

Points of divergence

The false narrative about the Russian and Ukrainian pilots was quickly picked up by many media outlets, including the author's own. — tg_tvrain
The world believed the story because of a 'fever' related to the war in Ukraine, with media outlets automatically assigning roles based on geopolitical narratives. — riamo
The Russian and Ukrainian pilots were not crew members but passengers who took control of the aircraft and landed it safely. — tg_dwglavnoe
Two pilots—Russian and Ukrainian—were among the passengers and helped land the plane, though this is contradicted by other sources. — fontanka
Israeli media reported that the two pilots involved in the fight were of Ukrainian and Russian origin. — tg_astrapress
The captain suffered severe stab wounds to the head and hands. — vm
The Israeli authorities classified the incident as a terrorist attack. — vesti
Passengers reported that Israeli passengers rushed to separate the fighting pilots. — fontanka

Coverage (16 sources)

Flydubai pilots mistaken for Russian and Ukrainian due to failed joke in chat — Вести
Pilots of Flydubai flight mistaken for Russian and Ukrainian due to journalists' joke — Вечерняя Москва
How did news emerge about Ukrainian and Russian pilots who fought on board a Flydubai flight? — Дождь (Telegram)
Why did media decide that Flydubai flight pilots were Ukrainian and Russian? We answer in one sentence — Meduza
It has become known why the world believed in the fight between a Russian and a Ukrainian on board Flydubai — РИАМО
Media: Russian and Ukrainian pilots helped land Flydubai plane — Вести
Ukrainian and Russian did not fight on board Flydubai, but together landed the plane in Saudi Arabia - Israel Hayom — DW Главное
Russian and Ukrainian saved falling plane together? New version of what happened on Dubai - Tel Aviv flight — Фонтанка
Israel Hayom learned about FlyDubai flight landing by pilots from Russia and Ukraine — Вечерняя Москва
Footage, allegedly from FlyDubai plane, where brawl occurred between pilots As Israeli media write, plane was controlled by two pilots — one of Ukrainian origin, the other from Russia. A conflict began between them. According to one version, in the brawl one... — ASTRA
In Israel, data on Russian and Ukrainian citizenship of FlyDubai pilots who fought each other were refuted — Коммерсантъ
TV of Israel refuted version that pilots of FlyDubai were Russian and Ukrainian — Вести
One of the FlyDubai plane pilots – an Omani citizen, report Israeli media. He is currently under interrogation. Before that... — РИА Новости (Telegram)
Media refuted version that pilots of FlyDubai flight were Russian and Ukrainian — Вечерняя Москва
History of fight between Ukrainian and Russian on board FlyDubai plane is gaining momentum — Israeli media began writing about what... — Mash
Israel Hayom: Ukrainian and Russian may have landed Flydubai plane — Москва 24

Flydubai pilots falsely labeled Russian and Ukrainian after joke

Consensus

Points of divergence

Coverage (16 sources)

Key entities

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