Flydubai Flight Bound for Tel Aviv Reportedly Transmits Hijack Code, Loses Contact

A Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv reportedly transmitted a hijacking alert code and briefly lost contact with air traffic control, according to a report by Turkey's Anadolu Agency.

The agency reported that the aircraft, carrying more than 150 passengers, descended to an altitude described as suspicious, prompting Israeli authorities to scramble fighter jets in response. The report did not specify how long contact was lost or provide further detail on how the situation was resolved.

Hijack alert codes are transponder signals pilots can activate discreetly to alert ground controllers to a security threat aboard an aircraft without alerting those on board who may pose a danger. Their activation typically triggers a rapid response from aviation and military authorities, including the scrambling of military aircraft to intercept or monitor the flight, as reportedly occurred in this case.

Flydubai and aviation authorities in the region had not issued a detailed public statement on the incident at the time of the Anadolu Agency report. It remained unclear from the available reporting whether the alert reflected an actual security threat, a technical malfunction, or human error.

Flights between Gulf carriers and Tel Aviv have operated under the framework of the Abraham Accords normalization agreements, and any disruption to such routes tends to draw heightened attention given broader security sensitivities in the region.