El Al, Israel’s national airline, has been forced to cancel two special repatriation flights intended to bring home Israelis stranded in Dubai. This development comes after the United Arab Emirates authorities did not grant the necessary landing permissions. These flights were organized in response to the suspension of flydubai services between Dubai and Tel Aviv following a mid-flight incident involving a flydubai crew.
The incident that prompted the flight cancellations occurred when a co-pilot allegedly attacked the pilot during a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Passengers reportedly intervened to restrain the co-pilot, allowing other pilots to divert the plane safely to Saudi Arabia. This event led to the suspension of flydubai services on this route, creating a demand for repatriation flights.
El Al’s cancelled flights were planned to assist Israelis stuck in Dubai during the busy Sukkot holiday period. The airline had intended to offer these one-way flights at a fixed price, ensuring a means for Israeli nationals to return home amid the travel disruptions.
Despite the cancellation of these special flights, El Al has indicated its readiness to operate them once the required permits and security protocols are established. In the meantime, regular El Al flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv are set to resume on Sunday, although they are reportedly already heavily booked for the coming week.