A Fly Dubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after the pilot reportedly struggled, prompting the aircraft to divert.
Flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, first issued emergency code 7700 and then briefly transmitted hijacking-related code 7500, according to flight tracking data.
Following the emergency situation, the flight was redirected from Jordanian airspace towards Saudi Arabia, and the aircraft was subsequently intercepted by military jets and forced to land at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. More than 150 Israelis were on board the flight.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office spokesman said the incident involving the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight was not a hijacking, while a senior Israeli official claimed that a major disaster involving an Emirati airline had been prevented.
According to the Israeli official, an investigation is underway into the co-pilot, with indications emerging that he attempted to take control of the aircraft to crash it.
Israeli media also reported that, according to an initial assessment, the emergency signal was activated during an altercation between pilots in the cockpit.
