Hijacking alert issued after unusual incident on Dubai-Israel flight

An unusual incident was reported aboard a flight travelling from Dubai to Israel after the aircraft suddenly descended from an altitude of around 34,000 feet to 17,000 feet, triggering concerns over a possible hijacking.

According to flight data, the incident began when one of the pilots allegedly behaved aggressively inside the cockpit. The aircraft reportedly entered a steep descent, prompting the other pilot to intervene and attempt to regain control.

The pilot who was operating the aircraft reportedly treated the situation as an emergency and issued an emergency code. However, when the second pilot tried to take control, resistance was allegedly encountered inside the cockpit.

During the confrontation, the aircraft descended by another 4,000 feet within approximately nine minutes. The situation escalated to the point where the pilot reportedly activated a hijacking alert after suspecting that the aircraft was no longer under normal control.

Cabin crew members also intervened during the incident. Once the hijacking code was activated, air traffic controllers on the ground were alerted and began monitoring the aircraft closely.

The aircraft was subsequently diverted from Jordanian airspace into Saudi Arabian airspace. It was later forced to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi security forces reportedly surrounded the aircraft immediately after it landed. The pilots were taken into custody following the incident.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine what happened inside the cockpit and why the aircraft suddenly changed altitude and direction. Investigators are also examining the aircraft’s black box as part of the inquiry.

Officials are expected to establish whether the incident was caused by a cockpit confrontation, a security threat or another technical or operational issue.