Flydubai 737 MAX 8 lands safely in Saudi Arabia after distress signal

A Flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating as flight FZ1073 sent distress signals while over Saudi Arabia and altered its course toward the kingdom, ultimately landing safely in Tabuk.

The aircraft was carrying more than 150 passengers, with some reports estimating 174‑180, and the incident initially prompted the scrambling of Israeli warplanes amid hijacking concerns before later reports suggested a dispute between the two pilots may have caused the emergency.