A Flydubai passenger plane has been diverted in an emergency landing due to a mid-air fight between pilots that ignited fears of a hijacking.

The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was carrying 180 Israeli passengers on Wednesday morning when unusual flight tracking and an emergency signal alerted Israeli authorities to suspected unlawful aviation interference.

The Israeli Air Force prepared fighter jets while a major security warning was issued due to the assumption of a hijacking.

However, the emergency signal from the aircraft was later established to have been triggered by violence between two pilots in the cockpit.

Israeli media, citing security officials, said the incident stemmed from a feud between the pilots, although the history between the pair was not divulged.

The plane was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia where it descended to a lower altitude before landing with everyone on board safe.