Flydubai Flight Diverts After Pilot Fistfight

Wed Sep 30 2026 09:09:55 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A Dubai‑to‑Tel Aviv flight was rerouted after a physical altercation between pilots, landing in Saudi Arabia. Quick actions kept passengers safe.

A Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv was diverted after a fight between the pilot and co‑pilot on board, according to Israeli officials. The aircraft signaled emergency codes before landing unexpectedly in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The incident wasn't a hijacking but an in‑air dispute. Israeli air force jets were dispatched, and Prime Minister Netanyahu consulted on the situation. Passengers, mainly Israelis, were safely aboard.

Flydubai Flight Diverts After Pilot Fistfight

Picture this: A commercial flight takes off from Dubai early Wednesday, bound for Tel Aviv, but less than an hour in, the crew is in a brawl.

Flydubai sent an emergency signal and briefly switched to a hijack code, startling air traffic controllers. Reports show the signal was sent after the pilot and co‑pilot started fighting on the cockpit floor.

The plane, carrying around 150 passengers—most of them Israeli—was meant to land at Ben‑Gurion Airport. Instead it diverted to Tabuk Airport in northern Saudi Arabia, where the crew landed safely and passengers were transferred to other flights.

Israeli jets were dispatched to the incident site and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held urgent consultations. Officials confirmed the situation was not a hijacking but a cockpit dispute.

In the aftermath, airline and aviation safety experts are reviewing cockpit procedures to prevent similar disruptions. For passengers, airlines recommend keeping calm and following crew instructions during turbulence or unforeseen events.