Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv triggers hijack alarm, diverted over Saudi Arabia
A Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv transmitted an emergency call on Wednesday morning that initially appeared to indicate a possible hijacking, prompting Israel to scramble fighter jets. Authorities later said early findings did not point to a hijacking.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv sent an emergency call on Wednesday morning (30 September) that at first suggested a possible hijacking. There were 174 passengers on board, among them 27 children. Israel responded by scrambling fighter jets to accompany the aircraft.
Israeli authorities later said the initial indications did not point to a hijacking. According to them, another incident on board may have triggered the alarm.
The Boeing 737 was in descent at the time and turned around. It was diverted towards Saudi Arabia, where it descended to a lower altitude.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz convened an urgent security consultation over the incident.
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Sources
- aerotelegraph.comVerwirrung um Flug von Flydubai nach Tel Aviv