Israel-bound flight diverted to Saudi Arabia after brawl between pilots

A flight bound for Israel was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a brawl broke out between the pilots in the cockpit, an Israeli official said, in an incident that saw the aircraft transmit emergency signals mid-flight.

According to data from flight-tracking service Flightradar24, the aircraft plunged nearly 14,000 feet in just 30 seconds during the episode, a sharp descent that would typically be associated with a serious in-flight emergency.

Emergency diversion

The precise cause of the confrontation between the pilots has not been officially disclosed, and airline and aviation authorities have not released a detailed account of what triggered the altercation in the cockpit.

Following the emergency signals and the rapid loss of altitude, the flight crew opted to divert the aircraft to Saudi Arabia rather than continue on to its original destination in Israel, a decision consistent with standard emergency protocols aimed at ensuring passenger and crew safety.

It remains unclear whether any passengers or crew members sustained injuries during the incident, or what condition the aircraft was in following its emergency descent and subsequent landing.

Aviation regulators and the airline involved are expected to investigate the circumstances that led to the confrontation between the pilots, a process that typically includes a review of cockpit voice recordings and interviews with the flight crew.

The incident is likely to draw scrutiny from aviation safety experts given the unusual nature of an in-flight dispute between pilots leading to such a dramatic swing in altitude and an unplanned diversion.