Flydubai flight diverts to Saudi Arabia following cockpit dispute

On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, a flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Israel was diverted to Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The aircraft, a Boeing 737 identified as flight FZ1073, altered its course over Jordanian airspace after the flight crew initiated emergency signals. Data from the tracking website Flightradar24 indicated that the plane transmitted a general emergency signal, followed by a code signaling possible unlawful interference, before reverting to a general emergency status prior to landing.

While early concerns regarding a potential hijacking emerged, the Israeli prime minister’s office officially stated that the incident is not being treated as such. According to an anonymous Israeli official, the diversion was prompted by a physical altercation between the two pilots. Three Israeli security officials confirmed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted consultations regarding the situation. At the time of reporting, the airline had not provided an official statement, and investigations into the exact circumstances of the incident remain ongoing.