El Al’s plans to repatriate stranded Israelis from Dubai have been thwarted as the airline’s special flights to Tel Aviv were canceled due to the United Arab Emirates not granting landing permission. These flights were organized in response to the suspension of flydubai services between the two cities following an onboard incident.
The canceled flights were intended to bring Israelis home during the busy Sukkot holiday period. El Al had proposed offering these repatriation tickets at a fixed price to accommodate those affected by the disruption. Despite this setback, the airline remains prepared to carry out the repatriation once the necessary approvals and security arrangements are in place.
While the special flights have been canceled, El Al’s regular services from Dubai to Tel Aviv are set to resume on Sunday. However, these flights are likely to be heavily booked as demand remains high among travelers.
The disruption stemmed from an incident on a flydubai flight where the co-pilot allegedly attacked the pilot mid-flight. Passengers reportedly intervened to restrain the co-pilot, allowing other pilots to take control of the situation and divert the aircraft to Saudi Arabia. This incident prompted the temporary suspension of flydubai’s services, impacting travel plans for many Israelis.