flydubai scare: A flydubai flight, carrying around 170 passengers, escaped a crash after an alleged fight between pilots on a commercial plane travelling from the United Arab Emirates to Israel forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. Israel said it believes there may have been an attempt to attack Israelis. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one pilot stabbed another as he attempted to take control of the flight to crash it.

The episode raised concerns about a possible hijacking of a plane carrying dozens of Israelis and prompted Israel to scramble warplanes. Around two and a half hours after leaving Dubai, the plane sent an emergency alert, according to publicly available flight tracking information.

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Flight Descends From 33,000 Feet To 17,000 Feet

The flight abruptly descended from 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet (around 10,000 meters to 5,100 meters) in about the space of a minute, before making an erratic circle close to the Jordanian border and eventually landing in Tabuk about an hour later, according to Flightradar24.

What Are Signals 7700 and 7500?

FlyDubai Airlines confirmed that the flight first sent a 7700 signal and then a 7500 signal during the flight. Emergency codes 7700 and 7500 are universal four-digit transponder signals - known as squawk codes - that pilots input into an aircraft's transponder to silently and immediately alert Air Traffic Control (ATC) to critical in-flight emergencies. The squawk codes improve communication between ATC and pilots, ensuring easy understanding of any communication.

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How Is An Emergency Signal Sent From A Flight?

Aircraft use specialised communication systems, including radios and transponders, to stay in constant contact with air traffic control (ATC). Pilots can also communicate directly with ATC or other aircraft through these systems. One important tool is the squawk code. By setting a specific four-digit code on the aircraft’s transponder, pilots can instantly send key information to ATC, including details about their flight or signals indicating an emergency.

Squawk codes are used by Air Traffic Control (ATC) to monitor aircraft on screens in their towers, ensuring flights are maintaining their correct position and altitude.

ICAO's Three Emergency Squawk Codes

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has established three emergency squawk codes - Squawk 7500, Squawk 7600 and Squawk 7700 - which are used when an aircraft has a safety-related problem.

Squawk 7500

Entering transponder code Squawk 7500 alerts air traffic control and ground security forces that an aircraft is being hijacked. This code signals an unlawful interference, such as a pilot losing control to hijackers or being forced to alter their flight path and triggers an immediate emergency response from ground authorities.

Squawk 7600

A loss of radio communication poses a serious safety risk for any aircraft. When verbal communication with air traffic control is cut off, pilots immediately change their transponder code to Squawk 7600, automatically alerting ATC to the radio malfunction. As the plane approaches its airport, ATC can make the necessary changes with those they can communicate with to ensure everyone in the sky is safe when the plane with the malfunctioning radio lands.

Squawk 7700

Setting the transponder to 7700 immediately flashes a prominent alert on Air Traffic Control (ATC) radar screens, notifying controllers that the aircraft needs priority handling, airspace clearance, or emergency assistance on the ground. The squawk 7700 can also be used to alert you to mechanical or technical problems or a medical situation.

(With Jagran.com/Agencies Inputs)

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