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A flydubai Boeing 737 flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after an onboard incident reportedly involving a fight between the pilots triggered a series of emergency signals.
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Flight FZ1073 suddenly plunged nearly 14,000 feet before transmitting an emergency signal, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24.
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The emergency signals initially sparked fears of a possible hijacking after the aircraft transmitted a code associated with unlawful interference.
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Flydubai confirmed that the flight had experienced an “incident” en route to Tel Aviv and diverted to Tabuk, stressing that all passengers were safe and accounted for.
September 30, (THEWILL) – A flydubai passenger aircraft travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after an emergency unfolded aboard the plane, with an Israeli official saying the incident followed a fight between the pilots rather than a hijacking.
Flydubai Flight FZ1073, operated by a Boeing 737, was flying from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv when it changed course over the region and headed towards Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
According to flight-tracking service Flightradar24, the aircraft transmitted a 7700 general emergency signal while in flight.
Several minutes later, it transmitted the 7500 code, which is used to indicate unlawful interference with an aircraft.
The second signal raised concerns that the aircraft could have been hijacked.
An Israeli official, however, said the incident was not believed to have been a hijacking and was instead linked to a physical altercation between the pilots.
The aircraft subsequently transmitted another 7700 emergency signal before landing at Tabuk Airport.
The emergency signals were preceded by a dramatic loss of altitude. Flightradar24 data showed that the Boeing 737 dropped from almost 34,000 feet to below 17,000 feet, representing a loss of nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.
The sudden descent, followed by the emergency transmissions and diversion, triggered a security response in Israel.
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Israeli media, including Kan public broadcaster and Channel 12, reported that Israeli fighter jets were scrambled after fears that the aircraft might have been hijacked.
The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Prime Minister had held consultations over the incident and was monitoring developments.
“The incident is under control, and all measures are currently being deployed to return the Israeli passengers safely to Israel,” Netanyahu’s office said.
Pilots Reportedly Fight
Several Israeli media outlets reported that the emergency was triggered by a physical confrontation between the pilots.
The reports, citing anonymous sources, said the pilots became involved in a fight inside the aircraft and that passengers intervened to separate them.
Israeli media also published photographs purportedly showing a passenger wearing a bloodied shirt following the altercation.
Flydubai confirmed that Flight FZ1073 had experienced an “incident” while en route to Tel Aviv and subsequently diverted to Tabuk.
The airline said the aircraft landed safely and that all passengers were safe and accounted for. It did not disclose the nature of the incident or comment on reports of a fight between the pilots.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
