Flydubai flight diverted to Saudi Arabia after reported cockpit altercation
The aircraft landed in Tabuk after sending emergency signals, including a brief hijacking code that Israel’s prime minister’s office said was ruled out.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an incident en route. The aircraft was carrying about 150 people, according to reports, and had been due to land at Ben-Gurion Airport.
Israeli officials told local media the diversion followed a fight between the pilots. Local media, citing Israeli defence officials, reported an altercation between the pilot and co-pilot; the precise cause and sequence have not been confirmed.
The aircraft sent an emergency signal about two hours into the journey, then briefly transmitted a code used to report a hijacking before returning to the general emergency signal, according to Flightradar24 data cited by the BBC. Israel’s prime minister’s office said the incident was not believed to be a hijacking.
Flight-tracking data showed the plane descended more than 17,000 feet in under two minutes, briefly entered Jordanian airspace and then returned to Saudi Arabia, where it landed at Tabuk.
Flydubai confirmed the aircraft experienced an incident en route and said its teams were working with relevant authorities. The BBC reported that Israel dispatched fighter jets and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held urgent consultations. No outcome of the authorities’ inquiries was provided.
