Flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv lands 'safely' in Saudi Arabia after 'brawl between pilots'

TABUK, Saudi Arabia 

A flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has landed safely after an incident during the journey, the airline has said.

The Israel-bound Flydubai flight was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a brawl between pilots, an Israeli official told the Reuters news agency.

At one stage it was feared that a hijacking had occurred on board after ‌an emergency signal was transmitted that indicated a possible unlawful interference, Reuters reported, based on information from tracking website Flightradar24.

Israeli authorities said that, at one point, jets were scrambled.

It is not clear what had caused the fight, officials said.

The Boeing 737 plane is said to have transmitted a second general emergency signal before landing ​at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia.

Flydubai, an Emirati government-owned airline based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, said the plane had "experienced an incident while en route" and had landed safely in Tabuk.

It added that further updates will be issued as details become available.

The office of the Israeli prime minister said the incident ⁠was not believed to have been a hijacking.

An Israeli official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told our reporter‌ that the pilots had transmitted the emergency signals after getting into a physical altercation with each other.

Three Israeli security officials earlier said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been informed.

Mr Netanyahu's office said the incident is under control and all measures were being taken to return Israeli passengers to Israel.