TEL AVIV, Sept. 30, 2026 — A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv triggered a major security alert on Wednesday after transmitting emergency transponder codes, including Squawk 7500, which indicates unlawful interference or a possible hijacking.

Flight FZ1073, operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered A6-FKF, was flying from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) when the incident occurred. The aircraft departed Dubai at approximately 03:05 UTC and was cruising at around 34,000 feet before beginning its approach toward Israel.

According to flight-tracking data, the aircraft first transmitted Squawk 7700, the internationally recognized code for a general emergency. Shortly afterward, it changed to Squawk 7500, the code used to indicate unlawful interference with an aircraft.

The 7500 signal immediately raised concerns that the aircraft could have been hijacked while approaching Israeli airspace. Israeli fighter aircraft were reportedly scrambled in response, while Israeli authorities held emergency security consultations.

Aircraft Diverts to Saudi Arabia

Instead of continuing toward Tel Aviv, FZ1073 changed course and headed toward northwestern Saudi Arabia. The aircraft subsequently landed safely at Tabuk Airport, where Saudi authorities secured the aircraft and passengers.

Reuters reported that the aircraft experienced a rapid descent of nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before transmitting the emergency signals.

Initial reports created fears of a possible hijacking, particularly because the aircraft was carrying a large number of Israeli passengers and was approaching Tel Aviv.

However, subsequent reports indicated that the incident was caused by a physical altercation between the two pilots inside the cockpit. Israeli officials said the emergency signals were connected to the cockpit incident rather than a planned hijacking.

No Confirmed Hijacking

Despite the activation of Squawk 7500, authorities later indicated that the flight was not believed to have been hijacked.

Flydubai confirmed that an incident had occurred and said its teams were working with the relevant authorities. The airline did not initially provide detailed information about what happened inside the cockpit.

The incident remains under investigation, with authorities expected to examine the cockpit events, flight data and communications to establish exactly how the emergency unfolded.

All passengers were reported safe following the landing in Tabuk.

The incident highlights the significance of Squawk 7500, which is treated as a serious security warning because it can indicate that an aircraft is being subjected to unlawful interference or a hijacking attempt. In this case, the alert prompted a major military and security response before the aircraft was safely diverted to Saudi Arabia.