Israelis Abandoned After Flydubai Hijacking Attempt, Passengers Report

Nearly a week after surviving an attempted hijacking on a Flydubai flight, passengers say they have received no assistance from the Israeli state. Several passengers told Haaretz on Monday that they are experiencing psychological distress following the incident, in which an Omani co-pilot attempted to seize control of the plane. They also reported that interactions with the airline regarding compensation are proceeding without any government involvement. The Ministry of Welfare stated it has not yet received the passenger list, while the National Insurance Institute declined to comment. According to the National Insurance Institute's website, its staff typically contact hospitalized victims of hostile acts to offer support, but individuals experiencing anxiety who were not hospitalized are usually expected to seek help themselves. However, in this case, the passengers form a distinct, identifiable group whose details are known to the state.

One passenger noted that the only organization providing aid has been NATAL, a trauma support center for victims of terrorism and war in Israel. Passengers have formed a WhatsApp group to support each other, with one individual describing the group's members as "amazing people." Another passenger expressed disappointment, stating, "No government official has contacted us to date, except for the Minister of Education who called each family with children on the first day, and even that seemed for political purposes." This passenger lamented a perceived lack of preparedness, saying, "It feels like we haven't learned anything from the Yom Kippur War or October 7th; there's no emergency authority, no procedures, and no protocol."

The hijacking attempt occurred last Wednesday when Omani co-pilot Homaam Al-Homami attacked the Indian captain, Smith Majar, intending to crash the plane. Majar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to subdue the attacker. Two other pilots stabilized the aircraft and landed it in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The passengers were flown to Ben Gurion Airport several hours later.

Another passenger, Noam, also described difficulties and complained of state neglect, stating, "We don't care about compensation, we want a moment to deal with our souls." The family of another passenger mentioned that only their local council had reached out to offer assistance. NATAL reported that over 10% of the flight's passengers have contacted their hotline, a figure deemed high but natural for such an event. Social worker Eliyazer Cohen, director of NATAL's hotline, described the incident as having significant trauma components, including a "near-death experience." He noted that the passengers' shared trauma, with entire families on board, intensifies their distress, leading to immediate stress reactions like sleep difficulties, appetite loss, and crying.

The Ministry of Welfare stated it has contacted relevant authorities to obtain the passenger list and is awaiting it to enable local social services to proactively offer support. The ministry urged anyone experiencing distress to contact hotline 118 or their local social services department.