Tel Aviv-Bound flydubai Flight Lands in Saudi Arabia After Hijack Alert; Pilot Dispute Suspected

A flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv landed at Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk airport on Wednesday after transmitting emergency signals that triggered a suspected hijacking alert and prompted Israeli fighter jets to scramble, The Times of Israel reported.

Hijacking was subsequently ruled out, according to the report, which cited Israeli security sources as saying an apparent altercation between the pilots had prompted the incident.

The aircraft was carrying around 180 passengers. The precise circumstances behind the cockpit dispute and the transmission of the alerts remained unclear in the reported account.

Two Signals Trigger Alarm

Flight-tracking data cited by The Times of Israel showed that the aircraft initially transmitted squawk code 7700, the international signal for a general emergency.

It then transmitted code 7500, which indicates hijacking or unlawful interference. That second signal prompted Israeli Air Force fighter jets to scramble towards the aircraft, Israeli security sources told the newspaper.

The plane turned around while flying over Saudi Arabia and was subsequently tracked near Tabuk airport before landing there.

It also briefly disappeared from flight-tracking websites after transmitting the emergency signals, according to the report.

Senior Israeli Officers Assess Incident

The Israeli military said its chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, held an assessment with senior commanders as the incident unfolded.

Those involved included Israeli Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Omer Tischler, Operations Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Itzik Cohen and Intelligence Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, The Times of Israel reported.

Hebrew media also reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz were holding emergency consultations.

Before the landing, Israeli security sources had said authorities expected to gain a clearer understanding of events aboard the aircraft once it was on the ground.

Report Points to Cockpit Altercation

The subsequent account attributed the emergency to an apparent altercation between the pilots rather than a hijacking. The reported sequence did not establish what caused the dispute or why the aircraft transmitted both emergency codes.

The incident came against a backdrop of heightened Israeli security concerns. Earlier, speaking at the Tel Nof airbase, Netanyahu said there were indications that Israel’s enemies might attempt attacks ahead of elections.

The report did not establish any connection between that warning and the flight incident.

With inputs from ANI