TABUK— A flydubai (FZ) passenger flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Saudi Arabia and landed safely at Tabuk after an incident involving the pilots triggered multiple emergency signals during the journey.
The Boeing 737 was carrying approximately 150 passengers, all of whom were reported safe after the aircraft reached Tabuk.
flydubai (FZ) was operating the flight from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) when the emergency unfolded. The aircraft was initially headed toward Israel but changed course after transmitting an emergency alert while flying over the region, prompting a rapid security response.
flydubai Flight Diverts To Tabuk
The aircraft first transmitted a general emergency signal before sending another code associated with possible unlawful interference, according to flight-tracking information.
It later transmitted another general emergency signal as it headed toward northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it landed at Tabuk Airport (TUU).
The unusual sequence of signals initially raised concerns that the aircraft could have been hijacked. Israeli authorities responded by scrambling fighter aircraft, while senior officials were briefed as the situation developed.
The aircraft subsequently landed safely at Tabuk, bringing the immediate emergency to an end.
Israeli authorities later said the incident was not believed to have involved a hijacking, while arrangements were made to assist the passengers and return them to Israel.
Pilots Reportedly Fought
An Israeli official told Reuters that the emergency signals followed a physical altercation between the pilots inside the aircraft.
The official said the pilots had become involved in a fight, although the reason for the confrontation was not immediately known.
The airline has not publicly provided details about what happened inside the cockpit.
flydubai said the aircraft had experienced an incident while en route to Tel Aviv and confirmed that it landed safely in Tabuk, adding that further updates would be provided as more information became available.
Reports from passengers and Israeli sources have described a chaotic situation onboard, but some of the more detailed accounts circulating publicly have not been independently confirmed.
Investigators will need to establish exactly what happened, including how the emergency signals were transmitted and how the crew managed the aircraft during the diversion.
Emergency Response Activated
The incident triggered a significant response because one of the transmitted signals indicated possible unlawful interference with the aircraft.
Such an alert can lead authorities to treat a flight as a potential security threat until its circumstances become clearer.
The flight’s diversion was also notable because Saudi Arabia and Israel do not have formal diplomatic relations.
The aircraft was therefore redirected to an airport in a country that is not the flight’s intended destination, while authorities dealt with the unfolding emergency.
The safe landing meant there were no reported passenger fatalities or injuries requiring emergency evacuation.
Israeli officials said measures were being taken to return the passengers to Israel after the aircraft landed, Sky News reported.
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