Israeli Airlines Plan Dubai Flights After Flydubai Pilot Incident

General42 sourcesOct 1, 2026

SplitFactual rigor 53/100

The Story

Israeli airlines El Al, Israir, and Arkia plan to resume flights to Dubai after a Flydubai co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain on September 30, forcing the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

The incident led to the temporary suspension of Flydubai flights to Israel. Israeli authorities are negotiating with Emirati counterparts to secure approval for the resumption of services, with rescue flights expected to begin soon to repatriate stranded passengers. Dubai has been a popular destination for Israelis since the 2020 Abraham Accords, accounting for 8.3% of passengers through Ben Gurion International Airport in 2025.

Security concerns had previously led to restrictions on Israeli airlines flying to the UAE, with Israel's Shin Bet reportedly raising issues about security measures at Emirati airports weeks before the incident. The captain was injured in the altercation, but all 174 people on board the Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv landed safely in Saudi Arabia before continuing to Israel on another flight. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the co-pilot may have attempted to crash the plane, comparing the averted incident to a "9/11 disaster."

What they agree on

A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on September 30 after a co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain.
Passengers and crew members intervened to subdue the attacker, and the plane landed safely with no fatalities.
The captain sustained injuries during the incident.
Flydubai suspended its flights to and from Israel following the incident.
The UAE has launched an investigation into the incident.

Where they split

Some sources, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, frame the incident as an attempted crash or hijacking with potential terrorist links, while others focus on the altercation between pilots and the subsequent investigation.
Coverage varies on the extent of Saudi Arabia's cooperation with Israel during the incident, with some reports indicating reluctance from Saudi officials.
The Independent and other outlets report that Israel's Shin Bet had raised security concerns about UAE airports for months prior to the incident, a detail not emphasized in all reports.
Sources differ on the specific actions taken by Israeli airlines, with some detailing immediate plans to resume flights and others focusing on the initial suspension and security approvals.

The Spread

Split

32 sources placed · 10 from headlines only · 10 not measured

11 far left

00 left

1212 centre left

99 centre

55 centre right

33 right

22 far right

The coverage 42 sources

Far LeftTehran TimesTehran Times (opens the publisher’s site)
Center-LeftCBS NewsCBS News (opens the publisher’s site)
Center-LeftAl JazeeraAl Jazeera (opens the publisher’s site)
Center-LeftAl-MonitorAl-Monitor (opens the publisher’s site)
Center-LeftHaaretzHaaretz (opens the publisher’s site)
Center-LeftLe Monde (English)Le Monde (English) (opens the publisher’s site)
Center-LeftNPRNPR (opens the publisher’s site)
Center-LeftThe AgeThe Age (opens the publisher’s site)
Center-LeftThe ForwardThe Forward (opens the publisher’s site)
Center-LeftThe IndependentThe Independent (opens the publisher’s site)