Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Sep 30: Israeli security agencies were investigating an incident aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv after the aircraft transmitted an emergency signal, made a sharp descent and diverted to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV news, citing an Israeli official, reported that authorities had not ruled out a possible “terrorist incident” and were examining whether one of the two pilots may have attempted to crash the aircraft. One of the pilots was reportedly injured.

A video circulated on social media showed an Israeli passenger with blood on his face saying that passengers were “under attack” and had overpowered the attackers.

Earlier, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the incident was not believed to be a hijacking. An Israeli official said the emergency signals were transmitted after the pilots became involved in a physical altercation.

A Flydubai spokesperson confirmed that flight FZ 1073, operating from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion International Airport, “experienced an incident” while en route.

The aircraft later landed at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, and all passengers were safe and accounted for, the spokesperson said, according to Xinhua news agency.

Meanwhile, the Israel Airports Authority said it had opened a dedicated waiting and information area at Ben Gurion Airport for families of passengers on the flight, following a directive from Transport Minister Miri Regev.

The facility has been set up in Terminal 1, in the domestic arrivals hall. Family members have been asked to proceed to the designated area, where they can wait and receive updates as the situation develops.

Representatives of the Israel Airports Authority will be present at the site to assist the families.

The authority also appealed to members of the public who are not relatives of passengers on the flight to refrain from visiting the area so that families can receive assistance in an orderly manner.