A flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after an altercation between the pilots, Israeli media reported. An Israeli official said a “severe disaster” had been averted.
The airport said the pilots on the rerouted flight were injured and hospitalised.
Channel 12 reported that a second team of pilots, dressed in civilian clothes, landed the aircraft. The Times of Israel, citing Channel 12, reported that two passengers stopped one of the pilots from taking control of the plane.
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“The most severe disaster was prevented,” an Israeli official told Channel 12.
The aircraft was carrying around 180 passengers. It turned around while flying over Saudi Arabia and was later tracked near Tabuk airport before landing there. A hijacking was reportedly ruled out.
The flight first transmitted squawk code 7700, the international emergency signal, before sending code 7500, which indicates a hijacking or unlawful interference, according to flight-tracking data cited by The Times of Israel.
The 7500 signal prompted Israeli Air Force fighter jets to move towards the aircraft, according to Israeli security sources cited in the report.
The Israeli military said IDF Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir held an assessment with senior officers, including Israeli Air Force chief Maj Gen Omer Tischler, Operations Directorate chief Maj Gen Itzik Cohen and Intelligence Directorate chief Maj Gen Shlomi Binder.
The incident came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were indications that Israel’s enemies could attempt attacks ahead of the elections.
Netanyahu warned them against taking such action and said Israel’s “long arm” would reach them anywhere and at any time.
