Flydubai Expected to Repatriate Passengers Stranded in Saudi Arabia

Passengers on a Flydubai flight that landed in Saudi Arabia are awaiting a rescue flight to return them to Israel. Families of the stranded passengers have gathered at Ben Gurion Airport, where a dedicated waiting area and information center have been established. The primary question remains whether Flydubai or an Israeli entity will facilitate the return.

The most likely scenario, according to current information, is that Flydubai will operate the repatriation flight. A company aircraft has reportedly departed Dubai and is en route to Saudi Arabia to collect the passengers. This is due to existing security and policy restrictions that currently prevent Israeli airlines from landing in Saudi Arabia, and the need for special approval for any other Israeli entity to conduct the rescue.

Despite the preference for a Flydubai-operated flight, an Israeli solution is still being explored. Three Israeli Hercules aircraft are reportedly on standby, but Saudi Arabia has so far not granted permission for their use. If special approval is granted, an alternative Israeli-led repatriation might be possible.

Meanwhile, a high-level security discussion is underway, involving the Prime Minister, Transportation Minister Miri Regev, and security officials, including the Shin Bet. The meeting addresses the unusual circumstances of the incident, particularly concerning the identity and nationality of one of the flight crew members. Reports suggest this individual may not have been authorized to fly to Israel under existing agreements, possibly due to dual citizenship, which is being investigated as a potential breach of those agreements.

Minister Regev is expected to call for a halt to Flydubai's flights to Israel pending a full investigation into how the crew member was cleared to operate on the route to Israel. The stranded passengers continue to wait in Saudi Arabia for a resolution, while their families await updates at Ben Gurion Airport.