A flydubai aircraft flying from Dubai International Airport to Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport on Wednesday experienced an incident while en route, prompting a diversion to Saudi Arabia's Tabuk Airport. The airline confirmed that the aircraft landed safely, and all passengers were accounted for. The incident occurred on flight FZ1073, which departed Dubai at 8:05 am CLT and was scheduled to land at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv at about 10:30 am CLT.
According to a flydubai spokesperson, the teams are working closely with the relevant authorities, and further updates will be issued as additional confirmed details become available. The incident was initially reported as a possible hijacking, but Netanyahu's office later rescinded the claim, and Israeli authorities stated that the emergency was apparently the result of an altercation between the pilots rather than an attempted hijacking.
The flydubai aircraft, carrying nearly 180 people, issued a distress signal before changing course over Saudi Arabia, prompting the Israeli Air Force to dispatch two fighter jets toward it. Flight-tracking data showed that the aircraft initially transmitted the 7700 code, indicating a general emergency, before later transmitting the 7500 code, used to indicate a suspected hijacking or unlawful interference with the operation of an aircraft.
The aircraft changed course after entering Jordanian airspace, turning toward Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely at Tabuk Airport. An Israeli security official initially stated that Tel Aviv had no definitive evidence of a hijacking but were concerned due to the inability to establish contact with the pilot. Israeli authorities later clarified that the situation was not a hijacking incident.
According to flight tracking website Flightradar24, the aircraft descended 17,400 feet – from 34,000 to around 16,600 feet – over northwestern Saudi Arabia in just over two minutes at around 8:20 am. The aircraft then transmitted an emergency signal at 8:32 am CLT. The incident is currently under investigation, with Israeli authorities working to determine the cause of the altercation.
The diversion of the flydubai flight to Saudi Arabia is not believed to be a hijacking incident, according to a spokesperson for the Israeli prime minister's office. The incident highlights the complexities of air travel in the region and the need for continued vigilance and cooperation between authorities.
The incident has raised concerns about air safety and security in the region, with IATA officials recently citing high taxes and fees as a threat to African airlines' growth. The incident is being investigated, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Key points
- The flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after experiencing an incident en route.
- The incident was initially reported as a possible hijacking but was later clarified as an altercation between the pilots.
- The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers were accounted for.
