Israel will begin repatriation flights on Friday to bring back passengers stranded in the United Arab Emirates after commercial travel between the two countries was suspended following the attack on a pilot by his copilot on a FlyDubai flight.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, saw a copilot attempt to crash a Tel Aviv‑bound aircraft, killing all 182 people aboard. The motive remains unknown and a regional investigation is underway. In the aftermath, the UAE cancelled all flights to Israel, complicating travel for hundreds of passengers who regularly fly between the two nations.
Israel and the UAE have agreed to organize repatriation flights starting Friday, according to an Israeli official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The Ben Gurion International Airport will receive flights from Arkia and Israir late Friday and early Saturday, while El Al is scheduled to fly passengers from Dubai to Israel on Sunday. Earlier, El Al had reported that the UAE was holding up the necessary landing permits.
Dubai has long been a popular destination for Israelis since the Abraham Accords of 2020 normalised ties between the two countries. The repatriation effort comes amid broader concerns about aviation security and adds to the instability in a region already affected by the ongoing US‑Iran conflict.
