Flydubai 737 MAX diverts to Saudi Arabia after emergency codes

A flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 diverted to Saudi Arabia on September 30, 2026, while operating flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

The aircraft, registered A6-FKF, had departed Dubai International Airport bound for Ben Gurion International Airport. It landed safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, the airline said.

Flydubai said the flight experienced an incident en route. A spokesperson said all passengers were safe and accounted for, and that the safety and wellbeing of passengers and crew remained its highest priority. The airline said its teams were working with the relevant authorities and that further updates would follow as more confirmed details became available.

Flight tracking data showed the aircraft first squawked 7700, the general emergency code, then switched briefly to 7500, which signals unlawful interference with an aircraft, before returning to 7700 as it turned toward Tabuk. It left ground-based tracking coverage at 06:11 UTC and was picked up again by satellite.

According to The Times of Israel, Israeli fighter aircraft were scrambled while authorities assessed the situation. Israeli media later reported the emergency followed a fight. The airline has not confirmed that account.