A flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia after the aircraft transmitted emergency signals that briefly raised fears of a possible hijacking. The Boeing 737 MAX 8, operating as flight FZ1073, eventually landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
According to reports, the aircraft initially transmitted squawk code 7700, the internationally recognised signal for a general emergency. It then switched to code 7500, which indicates unlawful interference with an aircraft and can be associated with a hijacking.
The alert triggered a major security response, with Israel reportedly scrambling fighter jets amid concerns over the safety of the passengers. The flight was carrying around 180 Israeli passengers, according to the report.
However, later information suggested that the emergency was linked to an altercation inside the cockpit rather than an organised hijacking.
A regional official briefed by the Associated Press said a fight broke out in the cockpit and apparently involved the pilots. The exact reason for the confrontation was not immediately clear.
Israeli media, citing security officials, also reported that the aircraft had to make an emergency landing following what was described as a violent dispute between the pilots. Everyone on board was reported to be safe.
There were also differing reports about what happened inside the aircraft. One report claimed that a pilot attempted to activate the hijack code during the fight. Another account suggested that a pilot may have attempted to crash the aircraft. Passengers reportedly told Israeli media that one of the pilots was stabbed and that some passengers helped crew members restrain the alleged attacker.
The incident became even more alarming after flight-tracking data showed a dramatic loss of altitude. According to a CNN report cited in the article, the aircraft descended from around 34,000 feet to approximately 16,600 feet — a drop of about 17,400 feet in roughly two minutes.
The first emergency signal was reportedly transmitted shortly afterwards.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was briefed about the incident, with his office saying that the situation was under control and that authorities were taking measures to ensure the Israeli passengers could return safely.
The aircraft ultimately landed in Tabuk, a city in northwestern Saudi Arabia that hosts both civilian and military facilities.
The incident has drawn attention because Israel has not experienced a hijacking in decades, while flights between Israel and the UAE have operated since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 2020. Further details about the cockpit confrontation and the sequence of events are expected as authorities investigate the incident.
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