Some passengers refuse to board flydubai rescue plane from Tabuk: Hebrew media
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- ‘Israeli’ passengers stranded in Tabuk reportedly initially refused to board a replacement Flydubai flight after the original aircraft made an emergency landing.
- Hebrew media reported that authorities had sought to send an ‘Israeli’ Air Force aircraft, but Saudi Arabia did not permit the military aircraft to enter its airspace.
‘Israeli’ passengers stranded at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk reportedly hesitated to board a replacement Flydubai aircraft after their original flight made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, according to Hebrew media.
A passenger from Flydubai Flight FZ1073 told Channel 12 that the replacement aircraft had not yet departed for ‘Israel’ because some passengers were uncomfortable flying with the same airline following the incident aboard the original flight.
The passenger said travelers were discussing whether to wait for an ‘Israeli’ rescue flight or board the replacement Flydubai aircraft.
He also said that, according to his account, no ‘Israeli’ official had contacted the passengers at the airport.
According to reports by Channel 12 and The Jerusalem Post, ‘Israeli’ authorities had sought to send an ‘Israeli’ Air Force aircraft to Saudi Arabia to evacuate the stranded passengers.
Saudi authorities reportedly did not permit the ‘Israeli’ military or state aircraft to enter Saudi airspace, leaving a replacement commercial Flydubai flight as the alternative for returning the passengers.
Saudi authorities in Tabuk hosted the passengers in the airport’s departure lounge and provided assistance, according to the reports.
The developments followed the emergency landing of Flight FZ1073 in Tabuk after an incident involving the aircraft’s pilots. Both the captain and co-pilot were injured and taken to hospital, according to Tabuk airport authorities.
The flight had been traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when it transmitted emergency signals before diverting to Saudi Arabia.
The circumstances surrounding the cockpit incident remain under investigation.
