Flydubai Passengers Return to Israel After Mid-Air Incident

A special evacuation flight operated by Flydubai brought passengers back to Ben-Gurion Airport on Wednesday, September 30, after a "bloody drama" unfolded on their flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The flight was cleared to depart Saudi Arabia after the Israeli foreign intelligence service, Mossad, completed a security check of the crew. Some Israeli passengers initially hesitated to board the Flydubai aircraft again, but ultimately all boarded after receiving Mossad's approval.

Among the 174 passengers were 27 children and four individuals who helped neutralize the co-pilot. This co-pilot, an Omani national, is suspected of attempting to hijack the plane and crash it, potentially targeting the Israeli passengers. Investigators are examining whether he used a knife or an emergency axe to injure the first pilot during the struggle. Security checks at boarding prevent crew members from bringing such items onto the plane, so the theory that the co-pilot brought an axe is being dismissed. Investigators are also looking into any potential links between the co-pilot and Iran, though no evidence has been found yet.

Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev demanded that Prime Minister Netanyahu immediately suspend Flydubai flights to Israel pending a full investigation. Regev argued that the airline violated the aviation agreement between the two countries, which permits landings in Israel only by pilots from nations 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 screenings, a permission currently blocked due to disagreements over security requirements. However, an Israeli official told Ynet that Jerusalem does not intend to halt Flydubai flights, expressing trust in the UAE and noting that Flydubai transported a million Israelis last year. The official praised the "heroic Israelis" on board who saved the situation and the two pilots who stabilized the aircraft, calling it "like winning the lottery twice in one day."