Flydubai plane alerted after suspected hijacking attempt and pilot altercation

The plane, from Emirati Flydubai, issued a type of alarm signal before it disappeared from flight tracking sites, writes The Times of Israel.

According to Haaretz, the authorities are investigating an assassination attempt by hijacking. According to the newspaper, one of the pilots is suspected of planning to crash the plane.

The plane veered sharply as it entered Jordanian airspace. In conjunction with that, it also appears to have dived heavily into the air – from about 10,000 meters altitude to 5,000 meters, according to flight tracking sites.

A "violent clash" between the pilots has been reported to be behind the incident. Among other things, information about a stabbing incident is being investigated, according to Israeli i24.

- We heard screams on the plane. Then they opened the cockpit and we saw blood, and someone had stabbed the pilot with a pocket knife, a passenger told the Keshet 12 TV channel.

Around 180 Israeli passengers were on board the plane which has now landed in Saudi Arabia. The situation is said to be under control. The passengers will be flown on another plane to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced, according to Haaretz.

Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz gathered for an emergency meeting over the alert, according to media reports. Israeli warplanes are reported to have taken off at the first alarm.