First Rescue Flight Departs Dubai for Israel Amid Security Tensions

Arkia Airlines operated the first rescue flight from the United Arab Emirates on Friday, carrying 210 Israelis back home following a two-day period of uncertainty after an incident involving a Flydubai flight. The flight's departure came after extensive efforts by Israeli security forces to coordinate with their Emirati counterparts for the return of stranded citizens.

Romi, a flight attendant on the Arkia flight, described the pre-flight briefing and expressed relief, stating, "We are happy to be the first to bring Israelis back to the country, to give them a bit of certainty. Ultimately, it's a lack of security, it's scary to be in this place." She noted that the strict security measures were likely related to Israel's security rather than Arkia, as airlines must adhere to the host country's safety regulations.

Natalie, who traveled to Dubai with her children, shared her anxiety about being stranded, "The flight was canceled, we didn't know what we would do and realized we wouldn't be back when we planned. The children got an extra night in the hotel." Her son, Ariel, described the experience as "crazy" and admitted to being a little scared initially.

Israeli airlines had sought approval for morning flights, but Dubai Airport lacked available slots, and security coordination between the Shin Bet and Emirati authorities continued throughout the night. Slots were only approved in the morning, forcing El Al to cancel its flights. While Arkia departed on Friday, El Al and Israir were scheduled to fly out on Saturday. Passengers were not allowed to bring luggage due to the absence of a secure baggage screening facility at the airport, necessitating a separate cargo flight for the luggage scheduled for Saturday.

The Arkia rescue flight proceeded after Flydubai's CEO announced the suspension of all flights to Tel Aviv until further notice, stating the company fully supported the ongoing investigation by relevant authorities. In response to the flight cancellations, Etihad Airways announced it would add two flights from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi on Saturday. The cancellation of El Al flights followed an earlier agreement for rescue flights, which was reportedly jeopardized by a last-minute Emirati decision to revoke approval. Following overnight negotiations, the Israeli Ministry of Transport announced that flights from Dubai would resume on Friday, albeit with delays due to security preparations and coordination requirements.