Pilot Duel Forces Flydubai Flight to Divert to Saudi Arabia

Wed Sep 30 2026 10:04:38 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A flydubai flight bound for Israel was diverted after a physical altercation between its pilots, forcing an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

A flydubai jet bound for Tel Aviv reported an emergency after a fight between its captain and first officer. The aircraft diverted from its intended Israeli airspace and landed safely at Tabuk Airport, Saudi Arabia, with all passengers unharmed. Israeli authorities investigated, confirming the incident was not a hijacking. The event prompted the dispatch of Israeli fighter jets and an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Pilot Duel Forces §Flydubai Flight to Divert to Saudi Arabia

A flydubai jet leaving Dubai International Airport early on Wednesday night reported an emergency after a confrontation between the captain and the first officer. Flight‑tracking service Flightradar24 confirmed that the aircraft signalled a general emergency code two hours into the flight, then briefly switched to a hijack‑reporting code before reverting back to the emergency signal.

The jet, carrying around 150 passengers—most of whom were Israeli nationals—originally set a landing slot at Ben‑Gurion Airport. Instead of reaching Tel Aviv, the plane was diverted to Tabuk Airport in northeastern Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely and the crew was unharmed.

Israeli defence officials clarified that the signal was not a hijack threat but a response to an internal cockpit altercation. Following the incident, the Israeli air force dispatched fighter jets to the flight’s trajectory, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an urgent security review. The leadership confirmed that the situation had been contained without any security breach.

Flydubai plane on ground