Dubai-Tel Aviv flight diverted to Saudi Arabia after pilots clash in cockpit

A Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after an altercation between the pilots triggered emergency signals and briefly raised fears of a possible hijacking.

Flight FZ1073, carrying about 150 passengers, was heading to Ben Gurion Airport when it transmitted an emergency signal while flying over the region. The aircraft later landed safely at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, with all passengers and crew accounted for.

Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft first transmitted the general emergency code 7700 before briefly switching to code 7500, which indicates unlawful interference and can signal a possible hijacking. The plane subsequently changed course for Tabuk.

The incident prompted a major security response in Israel, with fighter jets reportedly scrambled as authorities initially considered the possibility that the aircraft had been hijacked. Israeli officials later said the situation was under control and that the incident was not believed to be a hijacking.

Israeli officials and media reports said the emergency signals were linked to a physical confrontation between the two pilots inside the cockpit.

Flydubai itself confirmed that the aircraft had “experienced an incident while en route” but did not initially provide details about what happened. The airline said it was working with the relevant authorities.

Flight data also showed a sharp drop in altitude shortly before the emergency signals were transmitted. The aircraft reportedly descended by roughly 14,000 to 17,000 feet in a short period before continuing towards Tabuk.

Some passenger accounts and media reports have described a more serious confrontation inside the cockpit, but details about exactly what happened remain under investigation.

Reports about the pilots’ identities and the precise sequence of events have also not been independently confirmed.

The aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia despite the country having no formal diplomatic relations with Israel.

Authorities are working to return the passengers to Israel, while Flydubai continues to cooperate with the investigation.