Dubai return flights delayed pending security coordination

The Transport Ministry announced Friday morning that Israeli airlines' return flights from Dubai to Israel are expected to be delayed while security officials complete coordination required to operate the flights.

According to the announcement, coordination among all relevant parties had set Friday as the start date for Israeli carriers' flights from Dubai to Israel, but the need to complete security preparations and coordination has pushed back the departure time of the return flights from Dubai.

The Transport Ministry said it continues to work with all relevant parties, in Israel and abroad, to enable the flights to operate as soon as possible. Citizens in Dubai are asked to remain in contact with the airlines through which they booked their tickets and to follow their instructions and updates.

The delay follows the security incident earlier this week on a flight from Dubai to Israel, when a Fly Dubai aircraft transmitted a distress code indicating a hijacking. The incident led to the scrambling of Israeli Air Force fighter jets and urgent security consultations at the highest levels.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu revealed details of the incident, saying that "during the flight, as they approached the country, one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot, and apparently he tried to crash the plane with its passengers." Israeli passengers managed to break into the cockpit and neutralize the attacking pilot, and the aircraft landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.

At the same time, another Fly Dubai aircraft en route from Dubai to Ben Gurion Airport experienced a sudden route change, turned around and returned to its point of origin. At this stage, official sources have not provided an explanation or official reason for the flight crew's decision to abort the route and turn back.

Scenes from the landing at Ben Gurion (Photo: Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

The 174 passengers who survived the dramatic incident on the Emirates flight, after the co-pilot attempted to crash the aircraft, landed safely in Israel. An emotional reception was held at Ben Gurion for the passengers returning from the terror flight.

The Transport Ministry expressed regret for the inconvenience but did not provide a specific time for when the return flights from Dubai would depart.