A flydubai passenger flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after transmitting emergency signals, including one associated with a possible hijacking, prompting Israel to scramble fighter jets before authorities determined that the incident did not involve a hijacking.

Flight FZ1073, operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was approaching Israel when it transmitted the international emergency code 7700 and briefly switched to code 7500, which is used to indicate possible unlawful interference.

The aircraft then changed course, descended and headed toward northwestern Saudi Arabia, eventually landing safely at Tabuk Regional Airport.

Flydubai later said all passengers were safe and accounted for, bringing the immediate security alert to an end.

The emergency transmissions triggered a rapid response in Israel. Israeli media reported that fighter jets were scrambled while authorities assessed whether the aircraft posed a security threat.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz also held an urgent security consultation with senior military and security officials.

The brief transmission of the 7500 code initially raised concerns that the aircraft might have been hijacked.

Israeli authorities later said there was no evidence of a hijacking. The aircraft continued toward Saudi Arabia and landed safely in Tabuk.

Israeli media, citing security sources, reported that an argument between the two pilots may have triggered the emergency signals and the subsequent diversion. Some reports said the confrontation may have become physical.

The reports have not been fully confirmed by flydubai or aviation authorities, and the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.

The 7500 transponder code is an internationally recognized signal used to alert air traffic controllers to possible unlawful interference. Its transmission does not, by itself, confirm that a hijacking has occurred.

According to flight-tracking data and Israeli reports, the aircraft initially transmitted the general emergency code 7700 before briefly switching to 7500.

The aircraft subsequently altered its course and descended toward Saudi Arabia rather than continuing to Ben Gurion Airport. The unusual flight path, combined with the hijacking-related signal, prompted Israeli authorities to treat the situation as a potential security threat.

Israeli officials later scaled back the response after determining that there was no confirmed hijacking.

The aircraft's safe landing in Tabuk allowed authorities to bring the immediate security operation to a close.

FZ1073 was operating a scheduled service between Dubai International Airport and Ben Gurion Airport.

The aircraft was carrying roughly 180 passengers, according to reports, although initial accounts gave different figures.

The incident occurred against the backdrop of heightened security concerns surrounding commercial aviation in the region. Flights between the UAE and Israel have operated since the two countries established diplomatic relations under the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020.

Authorities are continuing to examine what prompted the emergency transmissions, the reported cockpit dispute and the decision to divert the aircraft to Saudi Arabia.

While the immediate hijacking concern has been ruled out, the incident highlights how quickly an aviation emergency can trigger a major security response when an aircraft transmits a code associated with unlawful interference. (ILKHA)