More than 10,000 Israeli travelers found themselves stranded in Dubai and across Asia on Friday after the United Arab Emirates abruptly revoked landing permits for special rescue flights, halting an emergency repatriation effort launched following a violent cockpit attack on a Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv.
The travel crisis unfolded on Friday after Flydubai suspended its entire route between Dubai and Ben Gurion Airport following a violent altercation in the cockpit aboard flight FZ1073. Around 180 passengers and crew were on board when the incident occurred. The Indian pilot managed to open the cockpit door, and crew members, passengers, and two off-duty pilots traveling in the cabin intervened to overpower the alleged attacker. Control of the aircraft was recovered from its steep dive by an Israeli traveler before he passed steering duties to a backup flight crew who were traveling as passengers and successfully landed the jet in Saudi Arabia.
“This temporary suspension will allow the relevant authorities to continue their work and establish all the facts surrounding the incident.”
Flydubai spokesperson
The sudden suspension severed a vital aviation artery. With Emirates having suspended its Tel Aviv route after the October 7 attacks, Flydubai had been operating with capacity for passengers. Dubai served not only as a destination for vacationers and business travelers but as a critical transit hub for Israelis traveling onward to destinations across Asia, including Thailand and India.
El Al Scrambles Rescue Flights Before Permits Are Withdrawn
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich instructed ministry officials to immediately allocate the budget required by the Transportation Ministry to finance the rescue operations by subsidizing the empty outbound legs of the journey from Israel to Dubai in response to the thousands of stranded citizens. A pact was finalized between the Transportation Ministry and the Finance Ministry to subsidize the expenses incurred by Israeli carriers when flying empty planes from Israel to Dubai, on the condition that the companies maintain reasonable tariffs and refrain from taking advantage of the circumstances.
El Al Israel Airlines secured government authorization and opened ticket sales at a flat rate of $249, with tickets for two initial flights—scheduled to depart Dubai at 11 am (0700 GMT) and 1 pm—selling out online within about five minutes. Rival carriers Arkia and Israir also prepared rescue services, with Israir pricing one-way tickets from Dubai at $299 and Arkia offering fares starting at $279.
However, the operation ran into an immediate wall. Hours before flights were set to depart, the United Arab Emirates withdrew landing clearance for Israeli carriers, forcing El Al to cancel its planned rescue flights for Friday, October 2. Following notification from Israeli officials that authorization for Israeli airlines to land in Dubai had been rescinded, El Al stated it was obliged to scrap flights intended to bring stranded citizens back. According to Channel 12, the final clearances and agreements needed for Israeli planes to touch down in the UAE could not be reached despite hours of negotiations between high-ranking Israeli and Emirati representatives.
Diplomatic Talks Restore Approvals for Arkia and Israir
Intensive talks were conducted by the Shin Bet and the Transportation Ministry after the United Arab Emirates authorities re-evaluated their stance on permitting Israeli air carriers to run the evacuation flights following urgent overnight talks involving the Shin Bet, Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority, and the Transportation Ministry.
The Transportation Ministry announced that flights operated by Israeli airlines from Dubai to Israel would proceed, though logistical hurdles remained.
“Following coordination with all relevant parties, it was agreed that flights operated by Israeli airlines from Dubai to Israel will begin on Friday, Oct. 2. However, due to the need to complete preparations and the necessary security coordination for operating the flights, delays are expected in the departure of the repatriation flights from Dubai.”
Transportation Ministry
While Israir and Arkia confirmed they had received final approvals from Emirati authorities to operate repatriation flights, El Al remained grounded following its permit revocation and announced it was forced to cancel its rescue flights (LY974-1, LY972) for that Friday.
Security Directives Impose Baggage Limits on Evacuation Services
Travelers taking the evacuation flights from Dubai back to Tel Aviv are barred from checking baggage into the cargo hold or bringing cabin trolley bags on board, with individuals limited to carrying just a single personal item instead under security directives implemented for the rescue operation.
Suitcases and carry-on trolley bags are barred from the passenger compartment and must be transported separately to Israel on dedicated cargo flights.
Government representatives recommended that individuals currently located in Dubai stay in touch with their ticket-issuing airlines and adhere to any guidelines and announcements they provide.