Flydubai flight FZ1073 declares emergency after briefly transmitting 7500 code

A flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating as flight FZ1073 declared a general emergency while flying over Saudi Arabia early Wednesday.

Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft, registration A6-FKF, initially transmitting emergency code 7700 before briefly switching to 7500, the international transponder code reserved for unlawful interference.

The aircraft subsequently switched back to 7700 and was tracked descending in the vicinity of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

There is no confirmation that a hijacking or other unlawful interference actually occurred, and the reason for the emergency remains unknown.

No official statement explaining the situation had been released at the time of publication.