Flydubai flight to Ben Gurion broadcasts hijacking signal, diverted to Saudi Arabia, fighter jets scrambled

A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv carrying 174 passengers including 27 children broadcast code 7700 and then code 7500 indicating aircraft hijacking, turned back over Saudi skies, and fighter jets of the Israeli Air Force were scrambled. The aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Flydubai confirmed that the distress signal was activated because of violence on the aircraft, a quarrel among the pilots themselves.

A Flydubai aircraft took off from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates at 7:05 a.m. and was supposed to land at Ben Gurion Airport around 9:30 a.m. According to reports, after an hour and a half of flight and as it entered Jordanian airspace, the aircraft broadcast code 7700, the international emergency and distress code, and then code 7500 indicating aircraft hijacking.

At the same time the aircraft turned back, returned to Saudi skies and began flying at a lower altitude across the kingdom, and after flying southward turned westward within Saudi Arabia. According to reports, the distress signal was broadcast for a short time while the aircraft was in manual descent and performing a turnaround. Fighter jets of the Israeli Air Force were scrambled.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister convened an urgent security consultation following the incident. However, a security official clarified: "There is no confirmed information on a hijacking, the pilot activated a distress signal."

Subsequently, security officials sent reassuring messages, and the aircraft landed safely at Tabuk Airport. The aircraft, which had disappeared from flight-tracking apps, reappeared on them. A security official previously said: "We are unable to make contact with the pilot and that is concerning." The IDF, Shin Bet, Mossad, police and other security agencies held situational assessments, and Police Commissioner Dani Levi said: "We are prepared for every scenario."