Flydubai pilot investigated over possible attempt to crash Tel Aviv-bound flight

A Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an incident in the cockpit involving the pilots. The flight, which was carrying 180 Israeli passengers, sent a distress signal that initially triggered concerns of a hijacking, prompting Israeli officials to hold emergency security meetings and dispatch fighter jets in response. However, Israeli authorities later ruled out hijacking as the cause of the distress signal, clarifying that it stemmed from an altercation between the pilots. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one of the pilots stabbed the other and allegedly attempted to crash the plane. This incident has led to an investigation to determine whether the actions of the pilot were a deliberate attempt to crash the aircraft. The emergency landing occurred without any reported injuries to the passengers or crew on board. The Flydubai flight was a Boeing 737 MAX 8, and the incident raised significant security concerns due to the nature of the altercation. Israeli media reported that the situation was a result of a feud between the two pilots, and all individuals on the flight were confirmed to be safe following the emergency landing. The plane landed at a location that serves both civilian and military purposes in Saudi Arabia.