Plane from Dubai to Tel Aviv signals emergency: reports

A commercial aircraft flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv signalled an emergency a short time ago, while turning around over Saudi Arabia, The Times of Israel has reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was holding consultations over the Flydubai flight that was diverted from its path, three Israeli security officials told Reuters.

An Israeli source said the plane was expected to land in Saudi Arabia shortly and that the situation would then become clearer.

The diversion was not believed to be a hijacking incident, a spokesperson for Netanyahu’s office said.