Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv diverted to Saudi Arabia after mid-flight emergency

A Flydubai flight en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv landed in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after its crew activated distress signals mid-flight.

• Israeli fighter jets were scrambled toward the aircraft, carrying more than 150 passengers, after it sent an emergency code over Saudi airspace.
• Netanyahu's office said the route change is not believed to be a hijacking, amid media reports of a clash among the crew.
• The aircraft transmitted code 7500, used to signal a hijacking, according to flight-tracking data cited by Israeli media.
• Security officials said a full internal investigation would open and all crew members questioned after the landing.
• The Israeli military confirmed that Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir held an assessment of the incident with senior officers.
• Some Israeli security officials suspect the co-pilot attempted a deliberate crash in a suspected terror plot, while other reports describe a violent crew dispute.
• During the incident, the aircraft descended from 34,000 to 14,000 feet before landing safely in Tabuk.
• The pilot and co-pilot were hospitalized following the aircraft's emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
• Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev called for halting Flydubai flights to Israel, according to Channel 12.
• Flydubai confirmed a disturbance in the cockpit aboard flight FZ 1073, saying the crew regained control and landed safely in Tabuk.
• The airline operated two replacement flights to Tabuk and prioritized completing passengers' journeys to Tel Aviv.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled a planned visit to the Gaza envelope to hold security meetings after the incident.