FlyDubai Flight to Israel Lands in Saudi Arabia After Pilot Brawl

A FlyDubai flight en route to Tel Aviv landed in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday morning after a hijack signal was activated, prompting the scramble of fighter jets and temporary closure of Israeli airspace. The incident began around 9:00 AM when the aircraft, flying from Dubai, transmitted a hijack alert. Contact with the plane was lost for approximately 30 minutes, during which time fighter jets were scrambled. The plane eventually landed safely in Saudi Arabia around 10:00 AM.

Ofir Spiegel, whose mother was a passenger on the flight, described the intense anxiety his family experienced during the period of uncertainty. "There were very tense minutes," he stated. "I checked the flight number and discovered it was her plane." He expressed relief that the plane landed safely, noting his mother was returning after two weeks.

FlyDubai confirmed that the unusual event was not a hijacking but stemmed from a brawl between the flight's Russian and Ukrainian pilots. This altercation reportedly caused the activation of the distress signal and communication disruptions. The airline is now providing updates to the passengers' families, who are awaiting news on when the passengers will return to Israel. Israeli airspace, which had been closed as a precaution, reopened after the aircraft's safe landing. The plane was only 36 minutes away from landing in Israel when the incident occurred.