A flydubai flight made an emergency landing at Tabuk Regional Airport, after the crew transmitted two emergency codes during the flight, according to aviation and security sources.
The aircraft, operating as flight FZ1073, departed Dubai International Airport at around 6:55 a.m. local time. During the flight, the crew first transmitted squawk code 7700, the general international distress signal, followed shortly after by code 7500, the code used to flag a possible hijacking or act of unlawful interference.
The codes triggered an immediate emergency response, and the aircraft diverted from its planned route to carry out the emergency landing at Tabuk Regional Airport.
Despite the alarm raised by the transmitted codes, officials later confirmed that no hijacking had taken place. Security sources cited by regional media said the codes were sent following an altercation between the two pilots on board, rather than any attempt to seize control of the aircraft.
About 180 passengers were on board the flight at the time. All passengers and crew were reported safe following the emergency landing, with no injuries reported in connection with the incident.
flydubai has not yet issued a detailed public statement on the cause of the dispute between the pilots or on any further action regarding the flight crew. Aviation authorities managed the aircraft’s diversion and landing at Tabuk without incident.
Code 7500 is rarely used and triggers standardized emergency protocols regardless of the cause behind it, so that any potential threat is treated with caution until it is confirmed otherwise. In this case, that response led to a safe landing at Tabuk, even though the code stemmed from a dispute inside the cockpit rather than an external threat.
Source: The Tribune, Business Upturn, The Media Line
