Hijack Scare Forces Flydubai Flight To Land In Saudi Arabia, Plane Was Bound For Israel

Dubai: A flydubai passenger flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv suddenly came into limelight on Wednesday when the plane broadcast an emergency signal while in flight over Saudi Arabia. According to flight tracking data, the plane first sent a squawk code 7700, which signals a general emergency. After some time, code 7500 was also broadcast, which is linked to the situation of hijacking of the aircraft or any illegal interference. After this the plane changed its course and went towards Saudi Arabia. According to initial information, due to fear of hijack, Israel also activated its fighter planes. However, the plane was later confirmed to have landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia and the possibility of hijacking was ruled out.

What emergency codes did the plane send?

Flydubai flight FZ1073 transmitted the 7700 code first during flight. In aviation it is used to give information about any serious but common emergency. After this the 7500 code appeared for some time. 7500 is considered internationally as a sign of hijacking or some kind of illegal interference in the aircraft. For this reason the incident increased the concern of the security agencies. Later the aircraft again transmitted code 7700 and diverted to Saudi Arabia.

Was the plane really hijacked?

After the initial incident, the suspicion of hijacking definitely arose, but the information revealed so far has not confirmed that the plane was hijacked. According to the Associated Press, the plane landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and all people on board are said to be safe. Later reports quoting Israeli officials also said that it was not a hijack incident.

Why was the emergency signal sent?

According to the initial information revealed in the case, there was a dispute between the two pilots in the cockpit. Reports say that the emergency signal was activated during this fight. However, what was the real reason for the dispute and under what circumstances the 7500 code was sent, the investigation is still going on. Therefore, until the complete picture of the incident emerges, it would not be appropriate to consider any one reason as the final reason.

Why did Israel send fighter jets?

The plane was en route to Tel Aviv and its transponder broadcast the code 7500. In such a situation, Israeli security agencies activated fighter planes keeping in mind the possible threat. The move came as a precautionary security response. Later, when the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia and the fear of hijacking was removed, the situation became clear.

How many passengers were on the plane?

According to reports, there were about 180 passengers on board this Flydubai plane. The plane had taken off from Dubai and was scheduled to reach Tel Aviv. After the emergency situation emerged, the plane was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. After the information about the safety of the passengers came to light, the fear of hijacking immediately reduced.

What is yet to be revealed in the investigation?

At present the main focus of the investigation is on what actually happened in the cockpit and under what circumstances codes 7700 and 7500 were transmitted. Initial reports suggested a dispute between pilots was the cause, but officials concerned said the incident was still under investigation. Therefore, instead of the plane being hijacked, it is currently being seen as a serious aviation emergency, the full reason for which will become clear after investigation.