Flydubai Flight Israel-bound plane diverts to Saudi Arabia after pilots’ fight

A flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after its pilots reportedly became involved in a physical altercation, triggering emergency signals during the flight. An Israeli official said the incident was not believed to have been a hijacking.

Flydubai Flight FZ1073, operated by a Boeing 737, was flying over Jordanian airspace when it transmitted a general emergency signal, followed several minutes later by another signal indicating possible unlawful interference, according to flight-tracking data cited by Reuters.

The aircraft then transmitted another general emergency signal before diverting to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Flydubai said the aircraft had experienced an “incident” while travelling to Tel Aviv and confirmed that all passengers were safe and accounted for, without providing further details.

An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, told Reuters that the emergency signals were transmitted after the pilots became involved in a physical fight. It was not immediately clear whether either pilot intentionally activated the signals.

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A passenger’s relative, Yasmin Abu Kasis, said her daughter Miriam was aboard the flight and had reported hearing screaming. She also described an apparent confrontation involving a knife and said there was blood on board. Those details have not been independently verified.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held security consultations following the incident. His office said the situation was under control and that efforts were under way to return the Israeli passengers to Israel.

The diversion was particularly notable because Saudi Arabia and Israel do not have formal diplomatic relations. The aircraft’s safe landing in Tabuk nevertheless allowed authorities to deal with the emergency without a reported loss of life.

Flydubai operates regular flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv, a route used frequently by Israeli travellers. The airline also diverted a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight to Riyadh in September 2025 after a medical emergency, according to Israeli media reports.