A Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after transmitting emergency signals that initially raised fears of a possible hijacking.
اضافة اعلان
Flight FZ1073, carrying approximately 180 passengers, was diverted to Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia after an emergency situation developed while the aircraft was flying toward Israel.
The aircraft transmitted an emergency code and later a signal associated with possible unlawful interference, prompting Israeli authorities to respond to the situation as a potential security threat. Israeli fighter jets were reportedly scrambled, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz held security consultations.
However, Israeli authorities later ruled out a hijacking. Netanyahu’s office said the incident was not a hijacking, and Israeli media reported that the event was no longer being treated as a security incident.
According to reports cited by Israeli officials and media, the emergency signals were apparently triggered by a physical altercation between the two pilots. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.
The aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, and passengers were reported safe. The incident caused significant concern because of the emergency signals transmitted from the aircraft and the initial possibility of unlawful interference.
Flydubai had not publicly provided a detailed account of the incident at the time of reporting.
