Israel Suspends Flydubai Flights Amid Hijacking Scare Investigation

Israel has suspended all Flydubai flights to Ben Gurion Airport for six days following an investigation into an alleged hijacking attempt on one of the airline's planes earlier Wednesday. The suspension could be extended depending on the investigation's findings.

The decision came after Transportation Minister Miri Regev urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to immediately halt the airline's flights until the incident was fully investigated. The probe centers on suspicions that the co-pilot, identified as being from Oman, attempted to carry out a terrorist act and crash the plane. The alleged attempt was reportedly thwarted when the Emirati pilot, with the help of Israeli passengers, gained control of the co-pilot.

Minister Regev stated that Flydubai violated the aviation agreement between Israel and the UAE, which she claims requires pilots landing in Israel to be from countries with diplomatic relations with the Jewish state. An Israeli official noted that the Omani pilot had no prior landing experience in Israel. A Ministry of Transportation official described the incident as extremely serious, stating, "We were very close to a major disaster, and it was prevented."

Regev also called on the Prime Minister to immediately permit Israeli airlines to fly to Dubai, with Israeli security services conducting the security checks. This request comes amid ongoing disagreements over security arrangements that currently prevent Israeli airlines from operating flights to Dubai.

The Flydubai flight in question departed Dubai at 7:05 AM and was scheduled to land in Tel Aviv around 9:30 AM. Approximately 90 minutes into the flight, as the aircraft entered Jordanian airspace, the crew transmitted the international emergency code 7700, followed by code 7500, indicating a hijacking. The plane then diverted its course, returning to Saudi airspace and flying at a low altitude over various regions before heading west within Saudi territory. The flight carried 174 passengers, including 27 children.

Following the hijacking alert, Israeli security agencies and political leadership were informed. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz held urgent security consultations, while the Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir convened an assessment meeting, and fighter jets were scrambled. Flydubai, established in 2008 by the Dubai government, is a separate entity from Emirates Airline. Its operations in Israel began shortly after the Abraham Accords, with its first commercial flight landing in Tel Aviv on November 26, 2020. The route quickly became a significant air link between Israel and the UAE, with flight frequencies increasing substantially over time.