Israel-bound FlyDubai flight sends hijack alert

Israel reportedly scrambled fighter jets on 30 September after a FlyDubai flight to Tel Aviv sent out a suspected hijack alert, according to Israeli media. The plane changed course towards Saudi Arabia, but no hijacking was confirmed.

According to Ynet, the FlyDubai flight FZ1073, bound for Tel Aviv, carried 174 passengers, including 27 children. An Israeli security official told the outlet that authorities had been unable to contact the pilot.

Israel Hayom reported that the aircraft transmitted emergency code 7700, followed by code 7500, before circling in Saudi airspace. The circumstances behind the signals remained unclear.

Flightradar data, actual at the time of writing, shows that FlyDubai flight FZ1073 returned to Dubai.

Read more: Flydubai cancels flights to Uzbekistan and other countries

What triggered the alert?

Early accounts differed regarding the aircraft’s movements. The Jerusalem Post, citing Walla, reported that the alert code had subsequently been cancelled and that a technical problem was possible. The reports reviewed did not confirm the cause of the incident or the aircraft’s final destination.

Code 7700 signals a general emergency, while 7500 indicates unlawful interference, including hijacking. US Federal Aviation Administration guidance notes that accidental selection of emergency codes can trigger false alarms.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz convened an urgent security consultation, according to Ynet.