Israel-bound flight diverted after fight between pilots

What the report says

A Flydubai passenger flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted on Wednesday after the aircraft sent emergency signals during the journey, according to BBC World News. Israeli officials told local media that the plane, carrying about 150 people, most of them Israeli passengers, changed course after a physical dispute between the pilots. The airline and the officials were not described in the article as giving a detailed public explanation for the diversion.

The flight had departed Dubai International Airport early in the morning and was due to land at Ben-Gurion Airport. Flight-tracking data cited by the BBC showed that the aircraft first transmitted an emergency code about two hours into the trip, then briefly used the signal associated with hijacking before switching back to a general distress code. The aircraft later landed at Tabuk Airport in northeastern Saudi Arabia instead of continuing to Tel Aviv.

The Israeli prime minister’s office said the incident was not believed to be a hijacking, despite the brief alert. Local reports cited by the BBC said the signal was thought to have followed an altercation between the pilot and co-pilot. In response, the Israeli air force dispatched fighter jets, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held urgent consultations. The episode highlights how quickly aviation incidents can trigger security responses in a region where air safety and border tensions are closely watched.