Flydubai suspends flights to and from ‘Israel’ pending investigation

UAE airline flydubai announced it was suspending flights to and from ‘Israel’ until an investigation into an altercation on a diverted flight on Wednesday could be investigated.

"Following the incident involving flight FZ 1073 on 30 September, and in coordination with the relevant authorities, flydubai flights to and from Israel will be suspended while the investigation continues," read a statement from a flydubai spokesperson.

Flight diverted to Saudi Arabia

Flight FZ1073 was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when it issued emergency signals and was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.

Flydubai said all passengers were accounted for.

The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority said the aircraft experienced a "security incident" that was brought under control.

It said some crew members were injured and taken to a Saudi hospital, while an investigation was underway to establish the causes and circumstances of the incident.

174 people were aboard the flight, most of them ‘Israeli’ nationals.

The passengers were later flown to Tel Aviv on a replacement aircraft.

Pilot altercation under investigation

‘Israeli’ officials said the incident involved an altercation between the pilots.

According to ‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one pilot stabbed the other and attempted to crash the aircraft.

Those claims have not been independently established, and flydubai has warned against "premature speculation" while the investigation continues.

Reuters reported that the aircraft dropped by nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before passengers and crew intervened.

A reserve flydubai crew that was aboard the aircraft subsequently took control and landed the plane in Tabuk.

Saudi authorities arrested the alleged attacker, according to ‘Israeli’ officials, while both pilots were hospitalized following the incident.

The motive remains unclear.

Security concerns

The incident prompted security consultations in ‘Israel’ and the deployment of ‘Israeli’ fighter jets as authorities initially assessed whether the aircraft could have been subject to an unlawful interference or hijacking.

Reuters reported that ‘Israel’ plans to tighten security checks on pilots flying into the country following the incident.

Aviation-security experts said pilots are already subject to extensive screening, although specific procedures vary between countries and airlines.

Flydubai operates daily flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv.

The route has operated since the UAE and ‘Israel’ established diplomatic relations under the 2020 Abraham Accords.