A Flydubai jet carrying around 180 Israeli passengers was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after transmitting emergency signals, including a code associated with a possible hijacking, shortly after departing Dubai for Tel Aviv, according to reports.
Flight-tracking data showed that the Boeing 737 MAX 8, operating as Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai International Airport to Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, initially squawked code 7700, indicating a general emergency. The aircraft later switched to code 7500, an internationally recognised signal for unlawful interference, including a possible hijacking.