Saudi Arabia's National Transport Safety Center (NTSC) has launched an investigation into the emergency landing of a flydubai passenger plane at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk on Wednesday, TRT World reported, citing Anadolu Agency.

The NTSC said it received a report on flydubai flight FZ1073 and has deployed a team to investigate aviation safety, establish the circumstances of the incident, and collect evidence.

The flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when it was diverted to Saudi Arabia. In a statement, flydubai said an "altercation occurred in the flight deck" and that crew members secured the aircraft before diverting it safely. 

The airline said all passengers and crew were safe and accounted for, while the reasons and motives behind the altercation remain under formal investigation.

Tabuk Airport said air traffic control received a distress call from the flight at 8:44 am local time (0544 GMT), requesting an emergency landing. The captain and first officer were injured and taken to the hospital, it said.

The Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia said one of the pilots is an Indian national.

The aircraft was carrying 174 passengers and reportedly transmitted emergency code 7700, followed by code 7500, which indicates unlawful interference with an aircraft, TRT World said.

The airport later said all passengers left Tabuk at 5:40 pm local time aboard an alternative aircraft provided by flydubai.

Source: TRT World (AA)