Israel scrambles fighter jets after Boeing 737 signaled hijacking

Israel scrambled the fighter jets after a Boeing 737 passenger plane flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv sent out a distress signal followed by code 7500, which is used in a possible hijacking. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called an emergency meeting, but contact with the plane was lost.

According to Ynet, as the Flydubai flight descended, it first transmitted code 7700, an international general emergency signal, and shortly thereafter code 7500, which is used to report unlawful interference or hijacking. The airliner was descending manually at that moment, and then turned around and headed towards Saudi Arabia. As noted, there were about 180 people on board.

There was probably a fight between the pilots on board

The plane was not allowed to land at Ben Gurion Airport. It was clarified that the pilots did not contact air traffic control services either in Israel or Jordan. Later, the crew again transmitted a distress signal.

Later, information appeared that a fight had occurred between the pilots on board. After the fight, the crew pressed the emergency button, and the plane landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Israeli ex-generals make unprecedented appeal to Netanyahu

The appeal was signed, among others, by two former prime ministers, former intelligence chiefs and more than 30 retired army generals. They called on the prime minister to stop “Jewish terrorism” and “ethnic cleansing” in the West Bank.

The article emphasizes that such accusations from such a large group of former officials are “virtually unheard of.”