Flydubai Flight Diverts to Saudi Arabia After Reported Pilot Altercation

Published on
30/09/2026 – 10:16 GMT+2

A Flydubai flight bound for Israel from the United Arab Emirates was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after an alleged dispute erupted between the two pilots, prompting Israeli authorities to launch fighter jets amid concerns of a possible hijacking.

According to Israeli media quoting security officials, the confrontation in the cockpit involved both pilots and all occupants remained unharmed.

The aircraft touched down at Tabuk, a joint civilian and military airfield in the kingdom.

Flight tracking data showed that the Flydubai jet issued an emergency signal shortly after departure from Dubai.

A regional official familiar with the situation said a physical altercation broke out in the cockpit, though the trigger for the fight remained unclear.

A second source confirmed that Israel had scrambled warplanes, fearing the aircraft might have been hijacked while carrying dozens of Israeli citizens.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously warned of rising, unspecified security threats in the days leading up to the incident.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity, noting that the investigation was still underway.

Netanyahu’s office later stated that the situation was under control and that Israel was coordinating to bring the passengers back home.

While emergency landings due to crew issues are uncommon, they are not unprecedented; in 2022 two Air France pilots were suspended after a cockpit altercation on a Geneva‑Paris flight, although that aircraft continued to its destination without diversion.

Passengers interviewed by Israel’s Channel 12 reported hearing shouts from the front of the cabin, sensing the pilots’ argument before the plane descended sharply and landed in Tabuk.

They added that all travelers remained aboard the aircraft and that a substantial Saudi security presence surrounded the plane on the ground.

Flydubai, the low‑cost subsidiary of Emirates, has grown in popularity among Israeli tourists since the UAE and Israel normalized relations in 2020.

The airline later confirmed that flight FZ1073, en route to Ben Gurion Airport, experienced an incident and landed safely at Tabuk on Wednesday, adding that its teams are cooperating with authorities and will issue further updates as details emerge.

Historically, Israeli citizens have been targeted in hijackings and aircraft attacks by Palestinian militants during the 1960s and 1970s, though the country has not suffered a hijacking in recent decades and maintains stringent airport security, including intensive screening for inbound flights.

Regular commercial service between Israel and the United Arab Emirates has operated since the two nations normalized ties in 2020.

Additional sources• AP

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