Dubai-Tel Aviv Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Saudi Arabia as Pilots ‘Fight in Cockpit’

A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after the pilots got into a physical altercation during the journey.

The flight carrying about 150 Israeli passengers landed in Saudi Arabia after transmitting emergency signals while flying over Jordanian airspace.

The aircraft first transmitted a general emergency signal before switching several minutes later to a code indicating possible unlawful interference. It subsequently returned to the general emergency signal before landing safely at Tabuk airport in north-western Saudi Arabia.

Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 data showed the aircraft suddenly descended by nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before the first emergency signal was transmitted.

The emergency signals triggered a security response in Israel, with fighter jets reportedly scrambled.

Doron Spielman, spokesperson for the office of Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister, told Reuters that the incident was not believed to have been a hijacking.

An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the pilots had transmitted the emergency signals after getting into a physical altercation. It was not immediately clear whether either pilot had intentionally transmitted the signals.

Flydubai said the aircraft had “experienced an incident while en route” to Tel Aviv and diverted to Tabuk, where it landed safely.

“All passengers were safe and accounted for,” the airline said, adding that further updates would be issued as more details became available.

Yasmin Abu Kasis, whose daughter Miriam was on the flight, told Reuters that her daughter heard screaming and saw a man with a knife force one of the pilots to the floor.

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

One passenger reportedly told the Jerusalem Post that two other pilots who were on board helped take control of the aircraft.

The Israeli prime minister’s office said the situation was “under control” and that measures were being taken to return the Israeli passengers to the country.

Flydubai operates daily return flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv, a route that normally passes through Saudi and Jordanian airspace.