RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — A Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a reported “violent incident” involving two pilots, according to sources cited by CNN.
The aircraft, which was operating the Israel-bound flight, descended sharply over northwestern Saudi Arabia at around 1:20 a.m. ET, dropping from approximately 34,000 feet to 16,600 feet in just over two minutes, according to flight-tracking data reviewed by CNN.
The aircraft subsequently transmitted an emergency signal at about 1:32 a.m. ET.
An Israeli official said the incident was not a hijacking, describing it instead as an internal personnel incident onboard the aircraft.
Israeli Fighter Jets Scrambled
The emergency prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz to hold a security consultation.
Israeli fighter jets were also scrambled after the emergency signal was transmitted, an Israeli military spokesperson told CNN.
The aircraft was expected to land in Saudi Arabia shortly, according to the report.
CNN said it had sought comment from Flydubai.
The circumstances surrounding the reported incident remain unclear, and further details are expected as authorities investigate what happened onboard the flight.
