Israel Scrambles Fighter Jets After Tel Aviv-Bound Flydubai Flight Sends Distress Signal
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Israeli fighter jets scrambled on Wednesday after a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv transmitted a distress signal and diverted into Saudi airspace. The aircraft subsequently landed safely at an airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz held urgent security consultations while authorities assessed the alert. The emerging Israeli assessment linked the signal to a violent altercation between pilots, although the airline had not publicly confirmed the cause. Initial fears of a hijacking were subsequently eased.
