First Israeli Rescue Flight Lands in Dubai Amidst Security Concerns

The first rescue flight for Israeli citizens stranded in the United Arab Emirates landed in Dubai on Friday evening. Preparations for boarding were underway, with passengers expected to board soon. The flight comes after Israeli security officials authorized Israeli airlines to operate flights to bring Israeli passengers back from Dubai.

Initially, passengers will not be able to check luggage due to a lack of security infrastructure. This situation follows Flydubai's announcement two days prior that its flights to and from Israel would be suspended while an investigation into an attempted plane hijacking continues. The airline stated that the temporary suspension would allow authorities to investigate the incident thoroughly, prioritizing passenger and crew safety.

Sources familiar with the flight operations between Israel and the UAE indicated that Emirati officials are in contact with the Israeli side to prevent the hijacking attempt from escalating into a major crisis that could lead to a prolonged halt in flights. The CEO of Arkia airline commented on the situation, noting that the Emiratis are not currently approving rescue flights, despite having been supportive in the past when no one else wanted to fly.