Flydubai Pilots Fight on Tel Aviv Flight, Hijacking Signal Activated
Sajid Ali
Published September 30, 2026 | 12:36 PM
Netanyahu held an emergency meeting as Israel sent fighter jets into the air and the flight made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Incident Overview:
A Flydubai passenger flight, FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Israel’s Tel Aviv, mistakenly transmitted an emergency hijacking signal after a serious physical fight broke out between the pilots in the cockpit. Prompting Israel to issue an alert and scramble fighter jets.
According to Israeli and international media reports, the Flydubai Boeing 737 was carrying over 170 passengers when a heated argument escalated to a physical altercation. The aircraft subsequently transmitted code 7500, indicating a hijacking or threat.
The incident caused widespread panic as the aircraft descended to an unexpected altitude. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz convened an emergency meeting.
Israeli defense sources clarified that the incident was not related to security or terrorism but rather a result of the pilots' fight. The aircraft was diverted to Saudi Arabia for safety, landing safely with all passengers unharmed. An investigation into the incident has been initiated.
Related Topics:
- Accident
- Prime Minister
- Israel
- Dubai
- Alert
- Saudi Arabia
- Media