Pilots clash mid-flight, flydubai plane lands in Saudi Arabia

A regular flydubai passenger flight from Dubai in the UAE to Tel Aviv, Israel suddenly diverted and landed in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

High alert was declared in Israel after an emergency code signaling a possible hijacking was briefly transmitted from the aircraft during the flight. As soon as Israel learned of the incident, its air force scrambled fighter jets.

According to Israeli media, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz held emergency discussions with security officials.

Sources later cited by CNN said the plane had not been hijacked. According to them, the emergency arose after a fierce clash broke out between the two pilots inside the cockpit while the plane was in flight.