flydubai Tel Aviv flight sends hijack code, lands safely at Saudi Arabia's Tabuk
A flydubai Boeing 737 bound for Tel Aviv from Dubai sent a hijack alert, turned back and landed safely at Tabuk airport; no hijacking has been officially confirmed.
A hijack alert from a flydubai passenger plane flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv, the Israeli capital, caused alarm. The news came at a time of existing tension in the Middle East. The aircraft was a Boeing 737 carrying more than 150 passengers.
According to the information available, the aircraft was on a regular flight from Dubai International Airport towards Tel Aviv. While crossing Saudi Arabian airspace, it began showing unusual activity. The aircraft first sent code 7700 (Squawk 7700), which signals a general emergency. Shortly afterwards, its transponder broadcast code 7500 (Squawk 7500), which is regarded as the signal for unlawful seizure of an aircraft, or hijacking.
On receiving the code, panic spread in air traffic control (ATC). Contact with the aircraft's crew was then lost and the transponder was switched off completely. As a result, the aircraft briefly vanished from flight-tracking radar.
It was said that more than 150 Israeli citizens were on board. On receiving this information, Israel issued its highest security alert (High Alert). The Israeli Air Force (IAF) immediately sent up fighter jets to deal with any possible threat. Given the seriousness of the situation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz called an emergency meeting of senior security officials.
Meanwhile, before entering Israeli airspace, the aircraft suddenly turned. It made a U-turn and headed for Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia. The pilot took the decision at the right time and landed the aircraft safely at Tabuk airport.
Relief followed the safe landing, but conflicting claims are being made about why code 7500 was sent. Some say the two pilots had a sudden quarrel or personal clash in the cockpit, which may have triggered the emergency message. However, there has been no official confirmation of a hijacking from the airline concerned or from Saudi or Israeli security agencies.
According to experts in the air traffic domain, codes such as 7500 and 7700 clearly point to a very serious incident during a flight. Saudi Arabian officials and flydubai are currently investigating the matter thoroughly. All passengers and crew members of the aircraft are said to be safe.
