UAE Reconsiders Approval for Israeli Rescue Flights Amid Security Crisis

Rescue flights from Dubai to Israel, initially scheduled to depart on Friday, face uncertainty as the United Arab Emirates is reportedly reconsidering the approval it granted. The Israeli Ministry of Transport and the Shin Bet security agency are engaged in urgent discussions to resolve the emerging crisis, though a final decision to cancel the flights has not yet been made. Officials in the Ministry of Transport remain optimistic that the issue will be resolved.

Earlier, El Al had announced its intention to commence rescue flights for Israelis in Dubai on Friday, pending security clearance. Ticket sales for two El Al flights opened on Thursday evening and sold out within five minutes at a fixed price of $249 for a Lite fare. Arkia Airlines also opened sales for its rescue flights, which are planned to operate on Saturday as well, unlike El Al's initial schedule. Intense negotiations with the UAE are expected overnight, involving the Shin Bet, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Ministry of Transport, and Israel's Ambassador to the UAE, Yossi Sli, with expectations of a compromise.

The first El Al flight was slated to depart Dubai for Tel Aviv at 11:00 AM, with a second at 1:00 PM. Both flights from Tel Aviv to Dubai would be empty, as passengers would only be permitted to board with a single bag; checked luggage would be sent separately on cargo flights. Arkia's flights, starting from $279 per passenger, also face luggage restrictions, with checked bags to be sent separately. Israir also announced plans for two rescue flights from Dubai to Tel Aviv, subject to approvals, with initial one-way tickets from Dubai to Israel priced at $299. The airline is also preparing to resume regular service between Tel Aviv and Dubai with eight to ten weekly flights.

The impetus for these rescue flights stems from an unusual attempted attack on a Flydubai flight (FZ1073) from Dubai to Israel on Thursday. Israeli assessments suggest the co-pilot, an Omani citizen, attacked the Indian captain in an attempt to hijack the plane. Israeli crew members and passengers intervened, subdued the assailant, and the aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The flight carried approximately 180 passengers and crew, who were later transferred to Israel on another Flydubai flight.

Following the incident, Flydubai suspended its flights to and from Israel for six days, leaving hundreds of Israelis stranded in the UAE. Emirates, Flydubai's sister airline, immediately suspended its codeshare agreement with Flydubai on routes to and from Israel until further notice. Emirates also stated that passengers with final destinations in Tel Aviv would not be permitted to board Emirates flights to Dubai for onward travel to Israel.