Dubai-Tel Aviv Flight Makes Emergency Landing as Pilots Fight in Cockpit

A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after its pilots reportedly fought inside the cockpit.

The aircraft, carrying about 150 Israeli passengers, diverted to Tabuk in north-western Saudi Arabia after transmitting emergency signals over Jordanian airspace.

The flight first sent a general emergency signal before switching to a code indicating possible unlawful interference.

It later returned to the general emergency signal before landing safely at Tabuk airport.

Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 showed the aircraft descend nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.

The sharp drop occurred shortly before the first emergency signal from the aircraft.

The incident prompted a security response in Israel, with fighter jets reportedly scrambled after authorities received the emergency alerts.

However, Doron Spielman, spokesperson for the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said the incident was not believed to involve a hijacking.

An Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the pilots transmitted the emergency signals after getting into a physical altercation.

The official said it remained unclear whether either pilot deliberately activated the signals during the confrontation.

Flydubai confirmed that the aircraft had encountered an incident while travelling to Tel Aviv.

The airline said the crew diverted the flight to Tabuk, where the aircraft landed safely.

“All passengers were safe and accounted for,” Flydubai said, adding that it would provide further updates as more details emerged.

A passenger’s relative later gave an account of the reported confrontation inside the aircraft.

Yasmin Abu Kasis, whose daughter Miriam was aboard the flight, told Reuters that her daughter heard screaming during the incident.

She said her daughter also saw a man with a knife force one of the pilots to the floor.

Israeli media reported that passengers helped restrain one of the pilots after the fight broke out in the cockpit.

A passenger also reportedly told the Jerusalem Post that two other pilots travelling on the aircraft helped regain control of the situation.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s office said the situation was under control.

The office added that arrangements were underway to return the Israeli passengers to Israel.

Flydubai operates daily return flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv. The route normally passes through Saudi and Jordanian airspace, making the diversion to Tabuk possible.