A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Israel has landed in Saudi Arabia after an altercation between its two pilots led to a hijacking alert, according to Israel media. Earlier reports said Israeli authorities were examining a possible hijacking.
The aircraft, operating as flight FZ1073, departed Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates at about 6:55 a.m. local time on Wednesday, according to AirNav Radar. It was bound for Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8, registered as A6-FKF, initially flew northwest across Saudi Arabia toward Jordan and Israel.
About an hour and a half before its expected landing, the aircraft reportedly issued a general distress call and then transmitted code 7500, which signals unlawful interference and is used to indicate a hijacking.
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The Jerusalem Post attributed the security alert to an altercation between the two pilots. The circumstances of the dispute and how it led to the transmission were not immediately clear.
The newspaper said the aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia following the incident. Other reports identified the landing location as Tabuk, in the country’s northwest.
Israeli television station Channel 12 had earlier reported that authorities were examining a possible hijacking after contact with the aircraft was reportedly lost.
Authorities are expected to release further details about the incident.