A flydubai Israel-bound flight made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after the pilots reportedly became involved in a fight during the journey from Dubai to Tel Aviv, prompting an initial hijacking scare and a security response in Israel. Flight FZ1073 landed safely at Tabuk Airport, and the airline said all passengers were “safe and accounted for.”
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 departed Dubai International Airport at 3:05 a.m. UTC, according to flight-tracking data. While en route to Ben Gurion Airport, the aircraft transmitted a 7700 transponder code, which signals a general emergency.
Minutes later, the transponder switched to 7500, an emergency code associated with unlawful interference or a possible hijacking. The signal prompted Israeli authorities to respond as if the aircraft could be under hostile control while officials sought more information about conditions on board.
Pilots reportedly fight aboard Israel-bound flight as emergency signals raise alarm
Israeli officials later said the incident did not appear to be a hijacking. Reuters, citing officials familiar with the situation, reported that a physical altercation involving the pilots had occurred in the cockpit.
It remained unclear what caused the confrontation or who selected the emergency transponder codes. Reuters reported that authorities had not established whether either pilot intentionally transmitted the 7500 signal.
The aircraft changed course toward Saudi Arabia and eventually landed in Tabuk. Flightradar24 data showed the flight transmitting the general emergency code at about 5:31 a.m. UTC and the 7500 code several minutes later. A later 7700 signal was also detected before the aircraft reached Tabuk.
Israel deployed military aircraft during the uncertainty, according to reports. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held consultations with security officials as authorities assessed the incident and initially considered the possibility of a hijacking.
Passengers report shouting before emergency landing in Saudi Arabia
Passengers later described hearing shouting from the front of the aircraft, according to earlier reports. Some also reported that the plane descended sharply before landing in Saudi Arabia.
Images released from the Flydubai flight from Dubai to Israel, one of the passengers who tried to separate the pilots during an altercation that broke out in the cockpit can be seen with his shirt stained with blood. pic.twitter.com/gYm4ilsSt3
— GC24 (@GlobalChannel24) September 30, 2026
Reuters reported a more serious account from Yasmin Abu Kasis, whose daughter was aboard the flight. Abu Kasis said her daughter described seeing a man with a knife, a pilot on the floor, and blood. Those details came through a passenger’s family member and had not been confirmed in a public statement from flydubai or investigators.
Flydubai described the situation only as an “incident” and said its teams were cooperating with the relevant authorities. The carrier did not publicly explain what caused the reported confrontation between the pilots.
Questions remain over cockpit confrontation after safe landing
Reports said Saudi security personnel surrounded the aircraft after it landed. Israeli authorities began working on arrangements for passengers to continue their journey, while reports also indicated that the crew would be questioned and the aircraft examined.
Early passenger estimates varied. Israeli media reported as many as 174 passengers, including 27 children, while other reports referred to more than 100 Israeli passengers or dozens of Israeli citizens. Flydubai did not provide a passenger total in its initial public statement.
The incident followed earlier emergency diversions involving Israel-linked flights to Saudi Arabia, although those cases involved unrelated medical or technical problems.
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