Israeli authorities are investigating a cockpit incident aboard a Flydubai flight that was diverted to Saudi Arabia after an emergency alert….reports Asian Lite News Desk
Israeli authorities are investigating a serious incident aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv after the aircraft transmitted emergency signals, made a sharp descent and was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
The Boeing 737 operating flight FZ1073 later landed safely at Tabuk Airport, with Flydubai confirming that all passengers were safe and accounted for. The airline said the aircraft had “experienced an incident” while en route and that it was working with the relevant authorities.
Israeli authorities initially feared a possible hijacking after the aircraft transmitted an emergency code associated with unlawful interference. Israeli fighter jets were reportedly scrambled as the plane changed course and headed towards Saudi Arabia.
Israeli media, citing security officials, later reported that the emergency signals followed a physical altercation between the two pilots in the cockpit. Officials said the incident was not believed to have been a conventional hijacking, although authorities were examining whether the incident could have involved an attempted attack or an effort to deliberately bring down the aircraft.
Kan TV, citing an Israeli official, reported that authorities had not ruled out a possible “terrorist incident”. It also reported that one of the pilots was injured.
Videos circulated on social media appeared to show distressed passengers after the incident. In one video, an Israeli passenger with blood on his face said: “We are under attack on the plane. We have overpowered the terrorists. We are about to land.”
The circumstances surrounding the reported cockpit confrontation remained under investigation, and some details circulating online had not been independently verified. Reports have alleged that one pilot may have been injured during the confrontation, but the exact sequence of events was unclear.
Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft transmit emergency signals before diverting to Tabuk. The plane also made a rapid descent during the incident before stabilising and continuing towards the Saudi airport.
An Israeli official said the emergency signals were transmitted after the pilots became involved in a physical confrontation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the situation was under control and that efforts were being made to bring the passengers back to Israel.
Meanwhile, the Israel Airports Authority opened a dedicated waiting and information area at Ben Gurion Airport for relatives of passengers aboard the flight, following instructions from Transport Minister Miri Regev.
The designated area is located in Terminal 1’s domestic arrivals hall, where relatives can wait and receive updates as authorities assess the situation.
The authority said its representatives would be present to assist families and urged people who were not relatives of passengers to avoid visiting the area so that assistance could be provided in an orderly manner.
Flydubai said the safety and wellbeing of its passengers and crew remained its highest priority and that further information would be issued as confirmed details became available.
The incident comes amid heightened security concerns surrounding flights carrying Israeli passengers, although authorities have not confirmed that the Flydubai flight was the target of a hijacking. The investigation is continuing to establish what happened inside the cockpit and why the aircraft transmitted the emergency signals before diverting to Saudi Arabia.
