Israel-bound passenger plane makes emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after…
Israeli media say incident, which raised fears of possible hijacking, stemmed from feud between plane’s two pilots
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A commercial plane travelling from Dubai in the
A commercial plane travelling from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Israel has been forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, after an apparent brawl between its pilots prompted distress signals that briefly raised fears of an attempted hijacking.
The FlyDubai flight was over Jordan when it
The FlyDubai flight was over Jordan when it diverted to Saudi Arabia, transmitting three emergency signals, one of which indicated a possible unlawful interference. The plane dipped dramatically during the reported fight, descending about 16,000 feet in just two minutes.
Israeli officials scrambled fighter jets, fearful of a
Israeli officials scrambled fighter jets, fearful of a possible highjacking attempt on a plane containing dozens of Israelis, and the plane landed at Tabuk airport in north-western Saudi Arabia.
Israeli media said that the emergency signal resulted
Israeli media said that the emergency signal resulted from a brawl between the plane’s two pilots, with a spokesperson for the Israeli prime minister’s office confirming that the flight diversion was not because of a hijack attempt.
Authorities were reportedly investigating whether one of the
Authorities were reportedly investigating whether one of the pilots had tried to crash the plane in an apparent attempted suicide, before being stopped by members of the flight crew.
It was not immediately possible to verify those
It was not immediately possible to verify those reports. Pictures of a passenger with blood on their shirt were published by Israeli media
All passengers were safe and still on the
All passengers were safe and still on the plane, which was being guarded by Saudi security forces. It was due to return to Dubai and then resume its flight to Israel, according to Israeli media.
The circumstances of the brawl between the pilots
The circumstances of the brawl between the pilots was still unclear, with passengers’ recounting confusing moments and blood being spilt.
Yasmin Abu Kaiss, whose daughter was on the
Yasmin Abu Kaiss, whose daughter was on the flight, told Reuters her daughter said she had heard screaming and that a man with a knife put a pilot on the floor, and that there was blood everywhere.
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Israel-bound passenger plane makes emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after reported fight between pilots
Israeli media say incident, which raised fears of possible hijacking, stemmed from feud between plane’s two pilots
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Source: Guardian ME