A Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverts to Saudi Arabia after sending emergency alerts shortly after departure, according to flight tracking data and Israeli officials. Multiple outlets report the aircraft lands safely at Tabuk.
The incident prompts concern among Israeli authorities, including the scrambling of warplanes, after a distress signal raises fears of possible hijacking or unlawful interference. Reuters-cited reporting described two emergency transmissions: an initial general emergency alert and a later signal indicating possible unlawful interference.
Most outlets attribute the cause to an altercation between the pilot and co-pilot inside the cockpit, with Israeli officials saying it was a fight rather than a hijacking. Some reports note that it is not immediately clear whether either pilot intentionally transmitted the signals. With Saudi Arabia and Israel lacking formal diplomatic ties, the aircraft’s diversion underscores the regional security sensitivities. Flydubai is not reported as having commented immediately.
