Saudi Arabia Denies Israeli Aircraft Entry for Flydubai Passenger Evacuation
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Saudi Arabia blocked Israeli planes from evacuating Flydubai passengers.
- Riyadh cited that normalization cannot be imposed on Israel.
- The Flydubai flight landed due to an alleged co-pilot attack.
- Investigations suggest the co-pilot acted alone.
- Israeli airlines plan to resume flights to Dubai.
Saudi Arabia refused to allow any Israeli aircraft, civilian or military, to land on its territory to evacuate passengers from a Flydubai flight that made an emergency landing in Tabuk. This decision surprised Israeli officials who had anticipated Riyadh's approval. A source close to the Saudi Royal Court stated, "Israel must understand that normalization cannot be imposed." Israeli political and security bodies initially considered sending a plane to repatriate the passengers, with El Al proposing a civilian flight and the Israeli Air Force preparing a military option. Reports indicate discussions even included sending an unmarked aircraft, but Saudi Arabia ultimately rejected all proposals. Flydubai subsequently sent its own aircraft to return the approximately 180 Israeli passengers to Israel.
The Flydubai flight had landed in Tabuk after its co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain, leading to an emergency landing. Passengers waited for about eight hours before being able to depart Saudi Arabia. Following the Saudi refusal, Flydubai dispatched a replacement plane, though some Israeli passengers reportedly hesitated to board due to the incident.
Investigations are ongoing, involving Israel's Shin Bet, Mossad, and military, into the incident. The co-pilot, reportedly of Omani nationality, is under investigation by Saudi authorities. Initial findings suggest the co-pilot acted alone, possibly intending to crash the plane and kill the Israeli passengers, though no definitive link to organized groups or foreign states has been established. Israeli officials have warned of potential copycat attacks.
In a related development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed about flight security measures following the incident. The UAE reportedly agreed to additional Israeli security requirements, potentially paving the way for Israeli airlines to resume flights to Dubai. El Al announced plans to restart its Tel Aviv-Dubai route in November, pending Israeli approvals, after an eight-month hiatus due to security concerns raised by the Shin Bet.
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