Flydubai Flight Diverted to Saudi Arabia
The Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight landed safely in Tabuk after transmitting emergency signals, with Israeli authorities later ruling out a hijacking.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after transmitting emergency signals while flying toward Israel. The Boeing 737 aircraft landed safely, and all passengers were reported safe and accounted for.
The flight, identified as FZ1073, was carrying around 180 passengers. Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft first transmitted the international general-emergency code 7700 before later transmitting a code associated with possible unlawful interference. The aircraft subsequently changed course and headed toward Saudi Arabia.
KEY HIGHLIGHT
The Flydubai aircraft landed safely at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia after the emergency signals prompted authorities to assess a possible security threat.
The emergency signals initially raised concerns about a possible hijacking and prompted the Israeli Air Force to scramble fighter jets toward the aircraft. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also held security consultations with senior officials following the incident.
Israeli officials later said the incident was not believed to be a hijacking. An Israeli official told Reuters that the emergency signals were transmitted after a physical altercation between the two pilots. Flydubai confirmed that the aircraft had experienced an incident during the flight and said it diverted to Tabuk, where it landed safely.
SECURITY RESPONSE
The emergency transmission triggered a rapid security response, including the scrambling of Israeli fighter jets and consultations involving senior Israeli security and military officials.
Reports said the aircraft briefly transmitted signals indicating a general emergency and possible unlawful interference before reverting to the general-emergency code. The precise circumstances that led to the cockpit incident were not immediately fully established.
The diversion also required coordination between aviation and security authorities because the aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia, which does not have official diplomatic relations with Israel. Netanyahu's office said efforts were being made to facilitate the return of Israeli passengers to Israel.
Flydubai said it was cooperating with the relevant authorities and would provide further updates as information became available. The incident occurred amid heightened security sensitivities surrounding aviation in the Middle East.