Flydubai Flight FZ1073 transmitted the emergency code 7700, rerouted over Saudi airspace, and was intercepted by Israeli fighter jets after a 34,000‑to‑16,600‑foot descent.
The aircraft carried 180 Israeli passengers, according to Haaretz, and operated a regular route between the two capitals.
Flight Radar logged the climb to 34,000 feet, then a rapid descent to 16,600 within two minutes, a drop that would normally trigger a hijack alert.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting, while the Israeli Air Force scrambled jets and coordinated with Saudi officials for a safe landing.
A spokesperson for the airline said cockpit voice recordings reveal a violent altercation between the captain and first officer, which prompted the emergency signal.
The aircraft touched down at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah; all passengers were unharmed and will be repatriated to Israel as per the government’s plan.