A flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, September 30, after transmitting emergency signals while flying over the region, prompting a security response in Israel.
Flight FZ1073, operating from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport, changed course over Saudi Arabia and later landed safely at Tabuk Airport, according to reports.
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The aircraft reportedly transmitted emergency transponder codes, including 7700, which is used internationally to indicate a general emergency. Some reports also said the aircraft briefly transmitted 7500, the code associated with unlawful interference or a possible hijacking.
The alert prompted Israeli authorities to scramble fighter jets and assess the situation. However, Israeli officials said the incident was not believed to be a hijacking.
Reports from Israeli media later attributed the emergency to an alleged altercation between the pilots in the cockpit. However, this account has not been independently confirmed by flydubai, and the airline had not publicly established the cause of the emergency at the time of reporting.
The aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia, while authorities continued to examine the circumstances that led to the emergency signal and diversion.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
