Flydubai Flight to Israel Lands in Saudi Arabia After Hijacking Alert
Translated & summarized from Channel 13 by baba
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Flydubai flight to Israel diverted to Saudi Arabia after cockpit incident.
- Approximately 100 Israeli passengers were on board the diverted flight.
- An altercation between pilots triggered a hijacking distress signal.
- Israeli passengers reportedly helped subdue a co-pilot during the incident.
- Both pilots are being questioned by Saudi authorities.
- Efforts are underway to safely return passengers to Israel.
A Flydubai flight en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday after the pilots activated a distress code indicating a hijacking. The aircraft, carrying approximately 100 Israeli passengers, was escorted by Saudi fighter jets. Initial reports suggest a fight broke out in the cockpit between the pilots, leading to the activation of the distress signal. Eyewitnesses described chaos, with one pilot reportedly acting erratically and threatening suicide. An Israeli passenger is said to have entered the cockpit to help subdue the co-pilot. The plane reportedly plunged 14,000 feet during the incident, raising fears of a crash. Passengers recounted hearing screams from the cockpit and believing it was a terrorist attack before Israeli passengers intervened to restrain a crew member. Both pilots have been taken for questioning in Saudi Arabia. While the initial fear of a hijacking has been dismissed, the Israeli military has not ruled out the possibility of a hostile act, with speculation that the pilot may have intended to crash or hijack the plane, though the motive remains unclear. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed he was briefed on the situation and that efforts are underway to safely return the passengers to Israel. Flydubai confirmed the incident, stating the flight landed safely and all passengers are unharmed. They are cooperating with authorities. Israel's Ben Gurion Airport remains operational. Israeli rescue planes are reportedly being arranged to bring the passengers back from Saudi Arabia. The incident led to the cancellation of a planned visit by Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz to southern Israel and a postponement of the IDF Chief of Staff's trip to the US. This event occurs amidst ongoing security concerns affecting Israeli airlines' operations to the UAE, including stricter screening requirements by Israel's Shin Bet security agency.
Read the original at Channel 13Mentioned
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Not the same event — other stories that share this one’s people, places, or theme: background, reactions, and follow-ups.
