Dubai-Tel Aviv Flydubai Flight Diverted to Saudi Arabia After Mid-Air Emergency

A flydubai flight operating from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia on September 30 following an incident while the aircraft was in flight. Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737, transmitted the international emergency code 7700 and later transmitted 7500, a code associated with suspected unlawful interference or a possible hijacking. The alerts prompted a major security response from Israel, including the scrambling of fighter jets.

The aircraft subsequently changed course and landed safely at Tabuk Airport. While the initial signals raised concerns about a possible hijacking, later reports indicated that the emergency situation was linked to a physical altercation between the pilots. Israeli officials said there was no confirmed hijacking, while flydubai confirmed that the aircraft had experienced an incident and that all passengers and crew were safe and accounted for. Investigations into the circumstances are continuing.