A FlyDubai passenger flight travelling from Dubai to Israel is diverted to Saudi Arabia after sending an emergency distress signal, leading to an emergency landing in Tabuk. Several outlets report the incident briefly raised concerns about a possible hijacking, prompting Israel to scramble fighter jets.
Israeli media, citing security officials, say the source of the distress was a dispute between the plane’s two pilots. The reports also state that all passengers and crew are safe. Coverage differs mainly in emphasis: some headlines foreground hijacking fears and Israel’s military response, while others highlight the later explanation that it was a cockpit-related incident rather than an attack.
Flight tracking information cited by one outlet indicates the emergency alert was transmitted shortly after takeoff, and the aircraft proceeds to land in a Saudi location that includes both civilian and military facilities.
