The security alert prompted the Israeli Air Force to scramble fighter jets and triggered urgent consultations between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz. The flight carried roughly 160 passengers, about 100 of whom are Israeli citizens. The aircraft's altitude dropped as low as 5,000 feet before landing, an event noted for occurring in Saudi Arabia, which continues to have no formal diplomatic ties with Israel.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Flydubai Flight Lands in Saudi Arabia After Pilot Fight Triggers Hijack Scare
Geopolitics21 days ago
An Israel-bound Boeing 737 MAX arrived safely at Tabuk Airport in northwest Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a violent confrontation in the cockpit led to an emergency diversion. Flydubai and Israeli officials confirmed that a physical fight between the aircraft's two pilots triggered the transmission of squawk codes 7500, signaling unlawful interference or hijacking, and 7700, for a general emergency. The airline's flight FZ1073, traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, descended manually and turned around over Saudi airspace, causing a brief loss of contact with regional control towers.
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