Passengers Refuse Flydubai Flight Home After Hijacking Attempt

A Flydubai plane sent to repatriate Israeli passengers landed in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, September 30, after a hijacking attempt. While boarding began, some passengers refused to board the aircraft, citing fear of flying with the airline again. The flight is expected to arrive at Ben Gurion Airport between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

The Israelis were stranded in Saudi Arabia after their flight to Israel was diverted. The co-pilot, from Oman, is suspected of attempting to seize control of the aircraft and crash it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz had previously instructed the IDF to send transport planes to bring the passengers home, though it remains unclear if this directive will be followed. Netanyahu is holding an additional meeting with security officials and aviation industry representatives.

Preparations are underway at Ben Gurion Airport for the passengers' arrival, with a special zone set up for them and their relatives. Investigators believe the co-pilot intended to crash the plane to kill the Israelis on board. They are examining whether he injured the pilot with a knife or an emergency axe during the struggle for control. The theory that the co-pilot brought an axe onto the plane has been dismissed, as flight crews undergo strict security checks before boarding.

Investigators are also looking into a possible connection between the suspect and Iran, but no evidence has been found yet. Following the incident, Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev demanded that Netanyahu immediately suspend Flydubai flights to Israel pending an investigation. She argued the airline violated an aviation agreement, as flights to Israel are only permitted for carriers from countries with diplomatic ties to Israel.

A Transportation Ministry representative called the incident "extremely serious," stating, "We were very close to a major catastrophe that was prevented." Regev also called for Israeli airlines to be allowed to fly to Dubai with Israeli security checks, a move currently prohibited due to disagreements over security requirements.

The incident impacted the stock market, with El Al shares rising 7% and Israir shares increasing by over 9%. The suspected terror attempt on the Flydubai flight may prompt Israelis to choose domestic airlines, which employ Israeli pilots, many with prior air force experience, and operate under a state-subsidized security system.