A Flydubai aircraft bound for Tel Aviv was unexpectedly diverted after a confrontation between its pilots.
The flight departed from Dubai International Airport early Wednesday morning and, two hours into the journey, the crew sent an emergency signal. Within minutes the alert changed to a hijacking code before the crew switched back to a standard emergency notification.
Israeli authorities clarified that the incident was not a hijack. Instead, reporters citing defence officials said a physical altercation occurred between the captain and co‑pilot, prompting the emergency codes.
The aircraft, carrying roughly 150 passengers – most of whom were Israeli – was originally scheduled to land at Ben‑Gurion Airport. Instead, it diverted to Tabuk Airport in northeastern Saudi Arabia.
In response, the Israeli air force scrambled fighter jets to the area, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called urgent consultations to assess the situation.
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