Stories
flydubai in Spotlight After Hijack Scare: Why the Airline Matters to Israelis
- •flydubai, a Dubai government-owned low-cost airline, is a crucial air link between Israel and the world, especially after the 2020 Abraham Accords.
- •The airline's significance grew after October 2023, as it continued flights to Israel when many foreign carriers suspended services, providing vital connectivity for Israelis.
- •flydubai carried over 420,000 passengers to or from Ben Gurion Airport since early 2026, making it the third-largest international airline there by passenger volume.
- •The recent mid-air incident on Flight 1073, where a co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain, led to a temporary suspension of flydubai flights to Israel.
- •Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev has called for a suspension of flydubai flights, citing a potential violation of aviation agreements regarding pilot nationality.
Key Questions Answered
flydubai temporarily suspended its flights to and from Israel following a midair attack aboard Flight 1073, allowing authorities to investigate the incident. Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev also urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to suspend the flights, citing a potential violation of their aviation agreement regarding pilot citizenship requirements.
Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv plunged over 17,000 feet in under two minutes after the co-pilot of Omani origin brutally attacked the captain inside the cockpit. Passengers and a reserve crew stormed the cockpit to subdue the attacker, allowing the remaining pilots to safely divert and land the Boeing 737 MAX at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
flydubai has emerged as a crucial air link for Israel, especially after foreign airlines suspended services following the outbreak of war in October 2023. As the third-largest international airline at Ben Gurion Airport, it carried over 420,000 passengers to and from the airport since the beginning of 2026.
