A Flydubai passenger plane travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after its two pilots reportedly got into a physical fight in the cockpit.

The Boeing 737, operating as Flight FZ1073, was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia after transmitting emergency signals.

The aircraft first sent a general emergency signal before transmitting another indicating possible unlawful interference.

The signal triggered a security alert in Israel, with fighter jets reportedly scrambled over fears that the plane had been hijacked.

However, an Israeli official told Reuters that the signals were sent after the pilots became involved in a physical altercation.

The aircraft later landed safely at Tabuk airport.

Flydubai confirmed that an incident occurred and said all passengers were safe and accounted for.

Flight-tracking data showed the plane made a sharp descent before diverting to Saudi Arabia.

Passengers reportedly heard shouting from the cockpit, while Israeli media reported that one of the pilots may have been injured.

The circumstances surrounding the confrontation remain under investigation.

The aircraft was carrying about 150 passengers and was operating a regular Flydubai service between Dubai and Tel Aviv.

Israeli authorities said the situation was under control and arrangements were being made to return the passengers to Israel.

Tanzania has removed Nigerian nationals from its referred visa category, ending the requirement for special clearance before they can obtain a visa.

The Tanzania Immigration Services Department announced the development in a notice dated September 25 and shared on its official X handle on Monday.

The statement signed by Paul Mselle, chief spokesperson of the Tanzania Immigration Services Department, said the decision followed amendments published in government gazette No. 246 of 2026.

“With immediate effect, Nigerian nationals travelling to the United Republic of Tanzania are no longer subject to referred visa restrictions and will follow standard visa application procedures through the official immigration online portal or designated entry points,” the statement reads.

A referred visa is required for nationals of certain countries who need special clearance from Tanzania’s commissioner general of immigration or the commissioner of immigration (Zanzibar) before a visa can be issued.

Applicants in the category are often advised to wait for approval before making travel arrangements, including booking flight tickets or accommodation.

Before the latest change, Nigeria was among the countries whose nationals were subject to the referred visa requirement.

Other countries currently listed under Tanzania’s referred visa category include Afghanistan, Abkhazia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Somaliland, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The category also covers stateless persons and individuals with refugee status.

The removal means Nigerians travelling to Tanzania will now follow the country’s standard visa application process without the additional referral clearance.

A Nigerian man and registered sex offender, Babatunde Odutola, has been sentenced to prison in the UK after exposing himself and masturbating in front of a woman on a train heading to Manchester.

Odutola, 36, who has no fixed address, was sentenced to 44 weeks in prison at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Monday, September 14, after pleading guilty to outraging public decency and violating a suspended sentence order.

The incident took place around 7 p.m. on Friday, September 11, on a train traveling through Cheshire towards Manchester Piccadilly railway station.

According to the British Transport Police, Odutola approached a woman on the train, looked her up and down, and became aggressive when she refused to engage with him.

He then exposed himself while sitting in a wheelchair and began masturbating while staring at the woman and telling her to “come over.”

A fellow passenger intervened and helped escort the distressed woman from the carriage. Police reports indicate that CCTV footage showed Odutola continuing to masturbate as other passengers walked through the carriage.

British Transport Police officers arrested him after the train arrived at Manchester Piccadilly. He was prosecuted and jailed within 72 hours of the incident.

Detective Constable Leonidas Christoforou of the British Transport Police stated that Odutola’s behavior was “terrifying” for the victim, whom he allegedly targeted while she was traveling alone.