A flight departing Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday after a suspected terror incident onboard, according to an Israeli source cited by ABC News. The diversion marks a rare instance of an Israeli-linked aircraft landing in the kingdom, which has no formal diplomatic ties with Israel.
The flight's origin was Tel Aviv, though the specific airline and destination were not immediately confirmed. The nature of the suspected incident was not detailed by the source. Saudi authorities have not publicly commented on the diversion.
Saudi Arabia and Israel do not have official diplomatic relations. The kingdom has historically barred Israeli aircraft from its airspace, though it opened its skies to some flights in recent years as ties quietly warmed under U.S.-brokered negotiations.
The diversion would require Saudi air traffic control to coordinate directly with the aircraft, an uncommon but not unprecedented step. In 2022, Saudi Arabia announced it would allow Israeli airlines to fly over its territory, a move seen as a sign of shifting regional dynamics.
Israeli officials have not issued a public statement on the incident. It is unclear whether the plane has since departed Saudi Arabia or remains on the ground. The number of passengers and crew onboard was not immediately known.
The incident comes amid heightened security tensions in the region. Israel has been on alert for potential attacks since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas assault and the ensuing war in Gaza. Flights to and from Tel Aviv have faced disruptions and rerouting multiple times over the past year.
Saudi officials have not confirmed whether they are treating the diversion as a security matter. The kingdom's aviation authority did not respond to requests for comment. The U.S. State Department declined to comment on the specifics of the incident.
If confirmed as a terror-related diversion, the event could complicate the already delicate relationship between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The two nations had been inching toward normalization before the Gaza war stalled talks. Any security cooperation in this case would signal continued backchannel communication.
This is a developing story. More details will be added as they become available.
