A Flydubai aircraft bound for Tel Aviv was diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia after a physical altercation between its captain and first officer, Israeli officials confirmed.
According to flight-tracking service Flightradar24, the plane signaled an emergency two hours into its journey and later switched to a hijacking code before reverting to a general emergency signal.
Israeli air force jets were dispatched to the scene and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held urgent consultations, as the incident was not believed to be a hijacking but rather an internal dispute.
The aircraft, carrying roughly 150 passengers, most of whom were Israeli nationals, had initially intended to land at Ben‑Gurion Airport but diverted instead.
Security responses were swift, but the diversion added extra flight time and fuel consumption, inadvertently increasing the aircraft’s carbon emissions. This highlights how operational incidents can impact aviation’s environmental footprint.
Investigations are ongoing, with a focus on cockpit communication protocols, pilot stress management, and potential improvements to training and conflict‑resolution procedures.
