Flydubai Flight Diverted to Saudi Arabia Amid Pilot Dispute

A Flydubai flight en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport was diverted to Taybah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday morning after the pilots activated a distress code indicating a hijacking. The aircraft, carrying approximately 100 Israeli passengers, landed under escort by Saudi fighter jets. Israeli security officials quickly determined that the incident was not a security threat, attributing the distress signal to a physical altercation that occurred in the cockpit between the pilots. The Ministry of Transportation confirmed that Ben Gurion Airport remained operational throughout the event, with its airspace open.

Following the loss of the aircraft's location signal and failed attempts to contact the crew, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz convened an emergency consultation with security chiefs. The Israeli Air Force scrambled fighter jets, and the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, conducted a situation assessment with senior military officials. A security source later confirmed there was no hijacking or security incident.

Meanwhile, El Al announced last week it was suspending its Tel Aviv-Dubai route, citing instructions from security authorities. This follows reports that Israeli airlines were unable to resume flights to the UAE due to heightened security requirements from the Shin Bet. The security agency is demanding that luggage loaded onto Israeli flights undergo an additional screening using CT scanners provided by Israel, a requirement the UAE has reportedly rejected. Arkia Airlines has already canceled all its flights to the Emirates until the end of October due to this ongoing dispute.