Flydubai Flight Diverted to Saudi Arabia Amid Pilot Dispute

A Flydubai flight en route to Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday after activating a distress signal. Initially, passengers feared a security incident or hijacking, but aviation sources later revealed the diversion was due to an unusual altercation between the pilot and co-pilot in the cockpit.

The flight, carrying 170 passengers including 25 children, was diverted to the city of Dammam in Saudi Arabia. While details are still under investigation, sources within the aviation industry suggest the dispute escalated to the point where a stabbing attempt was suspected, though this remains unconfirmed by official channels.

The incident caused significant distress for passengers who were unaware of the cockpit situation. Following the landing in Saudi Arabia, Flydubai has dispatched a rescue flight from Dubai to Dammam. This replacement aircraft is expected to collect the passengers and bring them back to Israel, though the exact timing of their return is uncertain.

The diversion has caused a substantial delay for the passengers, who were originally scheduled to arrive in Israel on Tuesday. The airline is working to resolve the situation and repatriate all individuals affected by the unexpected detour.