A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv landed safely in Saudi Arabia after an incident involving the pilots forced the aircraft to divert, the airline and Israeli officials said.

The Israel-bound flight was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia following what an Israeli official described as a brawl between the pilots, Reuters reported.

At one stage, concerns were raised that the aircraft could have been hijacked after an emergency signal indicating possible unlawful interference was transmitted, citing information from flight-tracking website Flightradar24.

Israeli authorities said fighter jets were scrambled during the incident.

The cause of the reported fight remained unclear, while a second Flydubai flight was also diverted and returned to Dubai, Reuters reported, citing Flightradar24.

Both the pilot and co-pilot were taken to hospital after the aircraft landed, according to Reuters.

The Boeing 737 reportedly transmitted a second general emergency signal before landing at Tabuk airport.

Flydubai, an Emirati government-owned airline based in Dubai, said the aircraft had “experienced an incident while en route” and confirmed that it landed safely in Tabuk.

Passenger accounts provided further details about the incident.

An unnamed passenger told the Jerusalem Post hat one pilot stabbed another, prompting passengers near the front of the aircraft to intervene and force the alleged attacker out of the cockpit.

The passenger said two other pilots were on board and were seated towards the rear of the aircraft.

“I shouted at them to run and take control of the plane,” the passenger told the Jerusalem Post.

The witness also said the injured pilot received life-saving treatment from a dentist travelling on the flight.

Another passenger told journalists that the crew called for assistance, after which passengers helped tackle one of the pilots and restrain him.

Yasmin Abukasis said her daughter, who was aboard the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, called her during the incident and reported hearing screaming after a pilot called for help.

The circumstances surrounding the reported confrontation remain under investigation.