Flydubai Pilots Were Involved in a Fight and Someone Triggered the Hijacking Code
A physical altercation between Flydubai pilots aboard flight FZ1073 triggered a hijacking alert, causing the plane to divert and land safely in Saudi Arabia.
Jerusalem, 30 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The hijacking scare aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv was caused by a physical altercation between the two pilots, according to reports emerging Wednesday.
During the fight inside the cockpit, one of the pilots reportedly lost consciousness. The incident led the crew to transmit the international 7500 code, which signals a hijacking or other unlawful interference, triggering a major security response.
Earlier, the aircraft had transmitted the 7700 emergency code while flying over Saudi Arabia before briefly switching to 7500.
The Boeing 737 carrying more than 170 passengers then diverted from its route and headed toward Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Israeli fighter jets were scrambled as authorities initially investigated the possibility of a hijacking. Authorities are still investigating the precise circumstances of the pilots’ confrontation.