STORY
A Flydubai passenger flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv has made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after transmitting an alert indicating possible unlawful interference. Flight FZ1073 landed safely at Tabuk Airport and all passengers were reported to be safe.
Flight tracking information showed that the Boeing 737 initially transmitted a general emergency signal before activating the code associated with a possible hijacking. The aircraft descended rapidly by approximately 14,000 feet before changing course towards Saudi Arabia. The incident prompted Israel to scramble military aircraft and hold emergency security consultations.
An Israeli official said the alert followed an altercation involving the pilots, although the precise circumstances remain under investigation. Flydubai confirmed that an incident had taken place but did not provide further details. The Israeli Prime Minister’s office subsequently said it did not believe the aircraft had been hijacked and that arrangements were being made to return the passengers safely to Israel.