Israel-bound flight diverted to Saudi Arabia after pilots brawl

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A flight bound for Tel Aviv from Dubai diverted to Saudi Arabia after transmitting emergency signals following a physical altercation between the pilots, rather than a hijacking, an Israeli official said on Wednesday.

Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai diverted over Jordanian airspace toward Saudi Arabia, transmitting a general emergency signal before sending another signal indicating possible unlawful interference several minutes later, according to flight-tracking website Flightradar24.

The Boeing 737 then transmitted the general emergency signal again before landing at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, the website said.

The incident was not believed to have been a hijacking, the Israeli prime minister's office said.

"The incident is under control, and all measures are currently being deployed in order to return the Israeli passengers safely to Israel," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

(With input from Reuters)

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Israel-bound flight diverted to Saudi Arabia after brawl between pilots