Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv reports hijacking code, loses contact
Aircraft carrying more than 150 passengers descended to suspicious altitude; Israeli fighter jets scrambled
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv carrying more than 150 passengers briefly transmitted a code indicating a possible hijacking, descended to what was described as a suspicious altitude and diverted toward Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, according to Israeli media.
Israeli daily Ynet said two Israeli Air Force fighter jets were scrambled following the alert.
The Flydubai aircraft was expected to land in Saudi Arabia shortly after the incident, Ynet reported.
Ynet said sources in Israel reported that it was probably "not a security incident."
Israeli Channel 12 later reported that contact with the aircraft had been lost after reports emerged of a possible hijacking.
A security source cited by Ynet stressed that “there is no confirmed information about a hijacking. The pilot activated a distress signal.”
Following the incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz convened an urgent security consultation, according to Ynet.
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