A FlyDubai passenger jet bound for Tel Aviv sparked a major security alert on Wednesday after transmitting a distress signal indicating a possible hijacking, amid reports that one of the pilots may have attempted to bring the aircraft down in a suspected terror attack.
The emergency broadcast prompted Israeli fighter jets to scramble and led authorities to suspend operations at the country's main international airport. The Boeing 737 MAX 8, operating as FlyDubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Israel, had more than 150 passengers on board when it broadcast the emergency squawk code 7500 while flying over Saudi Arabia.
Diversion to Tabuk
The aircraft subsequently turned around and diverted to Tabuk in north-west Saudi Arabia as the situation unfolded, The Mirror reports.
Early reports suggested the alarm may have been triggered by a violent struggle in the cockpit rather than a hijacking. Israeli media and security sources indicated that two pilots became involved in a physical altercation during the flight.
Passengers intervene
An Israeli passenger told The Jerusalem Post that those seated near the front of the plane rushed towards the cockpit after one pilot allegedly stabbed another. The passenger claimed two additional pilots were on board but initially appeared to be in a state of shock over what was unfolding.
"I shouted at them to run and take control of the plane," the passenger said.
According to reports, passengers succeeded in restraining the alleged attacker and removing him from the cockpit, enabling the remaining pilots to gain access and one to assume command of the aircraft.
Emergency landing and aftermath
The plane carried out a successful emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, with no injuries reported among those on board.
Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft switched between emergency codes throughout the incident, broadcasting 7700, the international code for a general emergency, before briefly changing to 7500 and then reverting to 7700.
Flight records showed the aircraft descended more than 17,000ft in just over two minutes and underwent unusually dramatic altitude variations. This triggered an immediate reaction from Israeli authorities, with reports suggesting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz were holding emergency consultations.
Later reports confirmed that a wider security threat had been ruled out and that the emergency stemmed from an internal incident involving crew members on the aircraft.
