A FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia on October 1, 2026. According to a Saudi source, Israel had requested that Saudi Arabia allow its military planes to transport the passengers, but the request was denied. The source, who wished to remain anonymous, said that Israel also requested that a commercial plane from the Israeli airline El Al be allowed to transport the passengers, but this request was also rejected.
The FlyDubai flight, numbered FZ1073, had encountered problems in the cockpit, leading to the emergency landing. The airline confirmed that a dispute had occurred in the cockpit, but stated that the causes and motivations behind the incident were still unknown and were being investigated. All passengers and crew members were reported to be safe.
The Saudi airport authority reported that three crew members, including the pilot and co-pilot, were injured in the incident. The pilot and co-pilot were taken to hospital for treatment. According to Israeli media reports, a scuffle had broken out on board the plane during the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the co-pilot had tried to bring down the plane after stabbing the captain, but the passengers had managed to subdue him. Netanyahu's statement was not verified by other sources. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, in coordination with the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority and other relevant agencies.
The UAE's Attorney General has ordered an investigation into whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity or planning. The authorities have not released any further information on the investigation. The incident has sparked concern about air safety and security in the region.
The Israeli government has been in touch with the UAE authorities to discuss the incident and its implications for bilateral relations. Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid spoke with his UAE counterpart, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to review the situation and express Israel's appreciation for the UAE's handling of the incident.
The incident has raised questions about the safety of flights between Israel and the UAE, which have been increasing in recent years. The two countries established formal diplomatic relations in 2020, and since then, there has been a significant increase in travel and trade between them.
Key points
- Saudi Arabia refused Israeli requests to send planes to transport passengers from a FlyDubai flight that made an emergency landing in the kingdom.
- The FlyDubai flight had encountered problems in the cockpit, leading to the emergency landing, and an investigation into the incident is underway.
- The incident has sparked concern about air safety and security in the region and raised questions about the safety of flights between Israel and the UAE.
