A flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after an incident on board that injured both pilots.
Flight FZ1073 was operating from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion International Airport when it diverted to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk. Flydubai confirmed that the aircraft landed safely and that all passengers were accounted for.
Saudi airport operator Cluster2 Airports said air traffic controllers received a distress call from the aircraft at 8:44 a.m. local time requesting an emergency landing. An emergency was declared and assistance was prepared for the aircraft, which landed at 9:45 a.m.
The airport said the captain and first officer sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment. Passengers were given assistance at the terminal while airport authorities coordinated with flydubai over their onward travel.
Flydubai has not publicly disclosed the nature of the incident. The airline said its teams were working with the relevant authorities and that further information would be provided when confirmed details became available.
Flight tracking data showed significant changes in the aircraft’s altitude before the diversion. The aircraft also transmitted emergency transponder codes, including 7700, which indicates a general emergency, followed by 7500, a code associated with unlawful interference.
Israeli officials and media reports said the emergency may have followed a physical altercation between the pilots. Reuters reported that Israeli officials were investigating whether the incident could have been an attempted terrorist attack, while other reports said authorities were examining whether one pilot attempted to take control of the aircraft. The circumstances had not been independently established.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the situation was under control and that measures were being taken to return Israeli passengers safely to Israel.
A replacement aircraft was being arranged to transport passengers from Tabuk to their destination, according to the airport operator.
Reports circulating about the nationality of one of the pilots were also disputed. The Russian Consulate General in Dubai reportedly rejected claims that one of the pilots was a Russian citizen.
Authorities in Saudi Arabia and Israel are investigating the incident, while flydubai continues to coordinate with officials over the passengers and crew.
