A Flydubai passenger aircraft travelling from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Israel made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after an incident in the cockpit triggered emergency signals and briefly raised fears of a possible hijacking.
Flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, landed safely at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, with all passengers safe and accounted for, according to Flydubai.
The incident occurred while the aircraft was travelling over the region. Flight-tracking data showed that the plane transmitted emergency signals before diverting towards Saudi Arabia. One of the signals indicated possible unlawful interference, prompting heightened concern in Israel.
Israeli officials said the incident involved a physical altercation between the two pilots. Reuters reported that Israeli authorities were investigating whether the incident may have been an attempted terror attack, although the circumstances remained under investigation.
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The Associated Press reported that the aircraft’s emergency landing prompted Israel to scramble warplanes amid initial fears of a possible hijacking. The plane later landed safely in Tabuk, where authorities began investigating the incident.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held security consultations following the incident as authorities monitored developments.
Netanyahu’s office said the situation was under control and that all necessary measures were being taken to bring the Israeli passengers safely back to Israel.
It was reported that an Israeli official initially said the incident was not believed to be a conventional hijacking, describing it as a “different incident.” However, two other Israeli officials later told Reuters that Israel believed the incident may have been an attempted terror attack involving one of the pilots.
The conflicting early assessments underline the fact that the investigation was still developing as the aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia.
The emergency landing also attracted attention because Saudi Arabia and Israel do not have formal diplomatic relations. Nevertheless, the Saudi authorities allowed the aircraft to land safely at Tabuk Airport while the situation was brought under control.
Flydubai said it was working closely with the relevant authorities and would provide further updates as additional confirmed information became available. The airline said the safety and wellbeing of its passengers and crew remained its highest priority.
Authorities are investigating what happened inside the cockpit, including the circumstances surrounding the altercation and the emergency signals transmitted by the aircraft.
The passengers are expected to be returned to Israel as arrangements are made following the emergency landing.
