TEL AVIV: A flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday after a reported physical altercation between the pilots triggered emergency signals and briefly raised fears of a hijacking.
Flight FZ1073, operated by a Boeing 737, initially transmitted the international emergency code 7700 before switching to 7500, the code used to indicate suspected unlawful interference with an aircraft. The alert prompted a major security response in Israel, including the scrambling of fighter jets.
Israeli officials later said the emergency signal was activated during a violent altercation between the pilots, rather than an attempted hijacking. The exact circumstances surrounding the confrontation remain under investigation, while flydubai has so far confirmed only that an incident occurred and that the aircraft landed safely.
Passengers reported hearing screams from the cockpit. One passenger, Miriam, said she saw one of the pilots injured when the cockpit door was opened, with blood visible.
Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft changing course after the emergency alerts and briefly entering Jordanian airspace before turning back towards Saudi Arabia. The aircraft also experienced a sharp altitude change during the incident.
The alert triggered an emergency security response in Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holding consultations with defence and security officials. Israeli authorities subsequently said the incident was not a hijacking.
The aircraft eventually landed safely at Tabuk Airport, with all passengers and crew accounted for. Flydubai said it was working with the relevant authorities and would arrange another aircraft to transport passengers onward to Tel Aviv.
