A flydubai passenger jet bound for Tel Aviv from Dubai diverted to northwestern Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after transmitting a series of emergency signals, following what an Israeli official described as a physical altercation between the pilots rather than a hijacking attempt.
Emergency Signals Preceded Diversion
Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737, diverted over Jordanian airspace toward Saudi Arabia, according to the flight-tracking website Flightradar24. The aircraft first transmitted a general emergency signal, then several minutes later sent another signal indicating possible unlawful interference, before transmitting the general emergency signal once more and landing at Tabuk airport.
The incident was not believed to have been a hijacking, a spokesperson for the Israeli prime minister’s office said.
Airline Confirms Safe Landing
An airline spokesperson said the flight experienced an “incident” en route to Tel Aviv and diverted to Tabuk, where it landed safely. All passengers were safe and accounted for, the spokesperson said, without providing further details.
An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the pilots had transmitted the emergency signals after getting into a physical altercation with each other. It was not immediately clear whether either pilot had intentionally sent the signal.
Passenger Accounts Describe Chaos
Yasmin Abu Kasis, whose daughter Miriam was on board, said her daughter told her she had heard screaming and that a man took a knife, put the pilot on the floor, and that there was blood everywhere.
Israeli Government Responds
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held consultations over the incident, which his office said in a statement was “under control,” adding that all efforts were being made to bring the Israeli passengers back to Israel. Israel has no official diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia.
A Popular Route With a History of Diversions
flydubai operates daily flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv, a route that is popular among Israeli nationals.
It is not the first time a flight between Israel and the UAE has landed in Saudi Arabia. A flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Riyadh in September 2025 due to a medical emergency, Israeli media reported at the time.
