A flydubai Boeing 737 MAX flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency turnback over northern Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after the aircraft briefly transmitted a code linked to possible unlawful interference. The incident triggered a security response in Israel, with Hebrew media reporting that fighter jets had been scrambled over fears of a possible hijacking.

However, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later denied a hijacking scare. The Israeli Air Force has not yet issued an official comment on whether its fighter jets were scrambled in response to the incident.

The aircraft was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children, according to local reports. It eventually landed in Saudi Arabia after declaring an emergency while flying towards Israel.

According to Hebrew news outlet Ynet, the hijacking signal was activated during an altercation between the two pilots in the cockpit. The airline reportedly confirmed that the emergency signal resulted from the physical confrontation between the pilots, rather than an attempt to take control of the aircraft.

The brief transmission of the code prompted Israeli authorities to take immediate security measures. The Times of Israel reported that Israeli authorities scrambled fighter jets towards the aircraft and held an emergency meeting after receiving the signal.

Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz also held an urgent security consultation, according to reports. The Israel Police Operations Division ordered the creation of a joint command centre with other security agencies to coordinate the response.

Police Commissioner Danny Levy also conducted a situation assessment as authorities worked to determine what had happened aboard the aircraft. Speaking to reporters, Levy said they were prepared for "every scenario."

The incident was later assessed as a false alarm linked to the physical altercation between the two pilots. The aircraft then landed in Saudi Arabia, ending the emergency situation without a confirmed hijacking.