Israel-bound flight diverted after pilot reportedly puts plane into rapid dive
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Israel has landed in Saudi Arabia after an altercation between its pilots led to a hijacking alert, according to Israeli media. Israeli media reported that one pilot is suspected of putting the aircraft into a rapid dive before the other stopped him during a struggle.
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.
Israeli television station Channel 14 reported that one pilot is suspected of putting the aircraft into a rapid dive from 30,000 feet to 15,000 feet at approximately Mach 1, the speed of sound. According to the report, the second pilot stopped him during a struggle.
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.
Authorities are expected to release further details about the incident.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
