In brief
Early Wednesday, a Flydubai aircraft en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to detour to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia after an on‑board fight between its pilots. Flight tracking sites logged a temporary hijacking code, but the incident was clarified as a cockpit dispute. The jet, carrying roughly 150 passengers – most Israelis – landed safely while Israeli air force jets were dispatched and Prime Minister Netanyahu convened emergency talks. The incident raised concerns over aviation safety and international air traffic protocols.
A Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv was diverted to a Saudi airport after an on‑board fight between the captain and co‑pilot, Israeli officials have confirmed. The 850‑aircraft left Dubai International early Wednesday morning and, two hours later, the crew signalled an emergency. Flight‑tracking services noted a brief switch to a hijacking code before returning to the normal emergency alert, indicating the pilots’ altercation was the likely cause. The aircraft, carrying about 150 passengers—most of them Israeli—was destined for Ben‑Gurion Airport but landed safely at Tabuk Airport in northern Saudi Arabia. In response, the Israeli air force scrambled fighter jets and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met urgently with military leaders. The incident has prompted a review of cockpit safety protocols and raised questions about the handling of emergency codes in commercial aviation.
