Israel's Transport Minister Demands Flydubai Flights Halted After Pilot's Alleged Sabotage Attempt

Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev has called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to immediately suspend all flights operated by Flydubai pending an investigation into an incident involving a flight bound for Israel. The strong reaction stems from reports that the co-pilot of a Flydubai aircraft, identified as an Omani citizen, allegedly attempted to intentionally crash the plane en route to Ben Gurion Airport. Following an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, the co-pilot was detained by local authorities for questioning. Israeli specialists are participating in the investigation to uncover all details of the incident.

Regev emphasized that national carriers should be prioritized in air traffic until the investigations conclude. She requested that passenger traffic be rerouted to flights operated by Israeli airlines El Al, Israir, and Arkia, citing their aircraft undergo stringent security screenings by Israeli services. Aviation authorities and experts are continuing to examine the circumstances of the emergency.

Flydubai representatives have not yet officially commented on the Israeli demands or the details of the investigation being conducted in Saudi Arabia with Israeli expert involvement. The situation is under close government scrutiny.