Flydubai Passengers Report Lack of State Support After Traumatic Flight

Passengers on a recent Flydubai flight from Dubai to Israel are reporting a lack of adequate psychological support and assistance from state services following their ordeal. Five days after the flight, many passengers continue to suffer from anxiety, insomnia, and the effects of severe stress, stating they have not received sufficient help. According to the Ynet news portal, passengers were met by specialists from the National Resilience Center and emergency medical teams upon landing at Ben Gurion Airport. The Ministry of Health stated that no one required immediate psychological assistance, though some sought consultations. Contact information for support centers and hotlines was distributed to all passengers. Passenger Daniela Elmaliach described ongoing sleep and appetite disturbances, intrusive thoughts about the flight, and heightened nervousness, stating she has had to return to work despite her mental state being affected. She noted that no one contacted her or other survivors after their return to Israel, forcing them to seek psychological help and information about compensation independently. The National Center for Trauma and Victim Support (NATAL) took her contact details for follow-up. The Ministry of Health indicated it is monitoring the passengers' condition and considering additional support measures in coordination with the Ministry of Education and Bituah Leumi (National Insurance Institute). However, officials are hesitant to proactively contact passengers, fearing that normal stress reactions might be misconstrued as psychological disorders. The ministry emphasized that insomnia and anxiety in the initial days after a severe incident are natural responses. Passengers are advised to gradually resume daily activities and rely on support from loved ones and their own resilience. Another passenger, who flew from Thailand via Dubai, felt that individuals were left to cope on their own after the incident, arguing the state should support citizens affected by such events, even without physical injuries. The Ministry of Transport stated that Flydubai is responsible for passenger compensation, citing the Montreal Convention which allows passengers to claim damages for moral and physical harm from the airline, including through legal action. Earlier reports indicated Israel is reviewing controls on foreign flight crews following the Flydubai incident, with over 1,200 crew members from 'unfriendly' states entering Israel since the start of 2026.