A flight from Dubai to Israel has landed in Saudi Arabia after a fight reportedly broke out between the co-pilots.
The Flydubai plane – which set off early on Wednesday – signalled an emergency code two hours into the flight, tracking website Flightradar24 says.
The flight bound for Tel Aviv dropped extremely rapidly over Saudi Arabia just over two hours after take-off from Dubai, flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 examined by BBC Verify shows.
Just before 05:21 UTC (06:21 BST; 08:21 local time) the plane was cruising at a recorded altitude of 34,000 feet (10,400m).
In less than two minutes it had descended more than 17,000 feet (5,200m).
An emergency signal was issued from the plane about 10 minutes later and the available data shows significant ongoing fluctuations in altitude throughout the rest of the flight to Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.
An unnamed passenger tells the Jerusalem Post that one pilot was stabbed by another, but passengers near the front of the plane helped force the attacker from the cockpit.
The witness says two other pilots were on board, at the back of the plane.
“I shouted at them to run and take control of the plane,” the passenger tells the Jerusalem Post.
The passenger also say the injured pilot was given life-saving care by a dentist on the flight.
The Flydubai plane – which took off from Dubai International Airport early on Wednesday – signalled an emergency code two hours into the journey, flight tracking website Flightradar24 says.
Minutes later it switched to a code used to report a hijacking, but was later turned back to the general emergency signal.
The emergency signal is thought to have been issued following an “altercation” between the pilot and co-pilot, local media reports, citing Israeli defence officials.
Flight FZ1073 – carrying around 150 people, most of whom are Israeli – was due to land at Ben-Gurion Airport but instead landed at Tabuk Airport in northeastern Saudi Arabia.
It’s reported the alarm was caused after a ‘fight’ between the pilot and the co-pilot.
An Israeli passenger on board has told journalists the crew asked for help and that passengers then helped tackle one of the pilots and tie him down.
In a statement, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the situation was under control and that efforts were underway to return the Israeli passengers home from Saudi Arabia.
Flydubai confirms its flight “experienced an incident” but says “all passengers are safe and accounted for”.
“Flydubai can confirm that flight FZ 1073 operating from Dubai International (DXB) to Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) on 30 September experienced an incident while en route,” a statement says.
“The aircraft has landed safely in Tabuk Airport (TUU) and all passengers are safe and accounted for. The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority.
“Our teams are working closely with the relevant authorities. Further updates will be issued as additional confirmed details become available.”
Flight FZ103 from Dubai to Tel Aviv issued an emergency signal for around seven minutes, shortly after an abrupt change of direction and descent over Saudi Arabia, according to data from Flightradar24.
The flight took off at 03:05 UTC (04:05 BST), after a 20-minute delay.
The emergency “squawk” code 7700, declaring a “general emergency” was issued at around 05:31 UTC.
Flightradar24 have since said on X that another emergency signal – 7500, declaring “unlawful interference” – was issued at 05:38, although this is not visible on their website.
The flight briefly entered Jordanian airspace at 05:40 before looping back into Saudi airspace six minutes later.
It began descending again at 06:11 on an apparent course towards Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Location data became temporarily unavailable shortly thereafter, until 06:58, when it re-emerged at Tabuk airport.