Israel Suspends Flydubai Flights for Six Days After Mid-Air Incident

Israel has suspended all flights operated by Flydubai for six days following a mid-air "drama," a decision that came directly from the Prime Minister's office. The move was coordinated with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, reflecting a consensus that the serious incident could not be ignored and required a thorough investigation before the airline could resume regular service to Israel. Transportation Minister Miri Regev had been advocating for the suspension since the morning, aligning with recommendations from the Civil Aviation Authority. Concerns were raised that Flydubai may not have adhered to agreements requiring it to assign only pilots holding passports from countries with diplomatic ties to Israel.

The Shin Bet security agency warned that the suspension could strain relations with the UAE, as the Abraham Accords framework relies heavily on tourism and aviation. Israeli authorities anticipate that Israeli airlines will operate rescue flights to bring back thousands of Israeli citizens still in Dubai. While Israeli carriers have not yet been contacted, Israel is confident they will assist if needed, even with immediate flights, drawing parallels to past operations against Iran. The UAE has pledged to allocate landing and takeoff slots for Israeli airlines.

This development follows months of efforts by Israeli airlines El Al, Israir, and Arkia to resume flights to Dubai. The reported attempted hijacking of a Flydubai plane today may be the event that shifts the situation.