A Flydubai passenger aircraft carrying about 150 Israeli passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after the pilots reportedly became involved in a physical altercation while the plane was in mid-air.
The aircraft, which was heading to Tel Aviv, issued several emergency signals while flying over Jordanian airspace before landing safely at Tabuk Airport in north-western Saudi Arabia.
Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 showed that the aircraft suddenly descended by nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds shortly before the first emergency signal was transmitted.
The emergency alerts triggered a security response in Israel, with fighter jets reportedly scrambled after authorities were alerted to the situation.
However, Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, told Reuters that the incident was not believed to be a hijacking.
An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the pilots had transmitted the emergency signals following a physical confrontation in the cockpit. The official said it was unclear whether either of the pilots had deliberately activated the signals.
Flydubai confirmed that the aircraft had “experienced an incident while en route” to Tel Aviv and had been diverted to Tabuk.
“All passengers were safe and accounted for,” the airline said, adding that further updates would be provided.
Details from passengers and Israeli media reports suggested that the confrontation inside the cockpit was serious.
Yasmin Abu Kasis, whose daughter Miriam was on the flight, said her daughter heard screaming and saw a man carrying a knife force one of the pilots to the floor.
Israeli media also reported that passengers intervened and helped restrain one of the pilots after the cockpit confrontation.
A passenger quoted by the Jerusalem Post said two other pilots who were travelling on the aircraft helped regain control of the situation.
The office of the Israeli prime minister later said the situation was “under control” and that arrangements were being made to facilitate the return of the Israeli passengers.
Flydubai operates daily return services between Dubai and Tel Aviv, with flights on the route normally passing through Saudi and Jordanian airspace.
The cause of the confrontation and the circumstances surrounding the emergency signals were not immediately clear.
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