flydubai suspends all Israel flights pending FZ1073 investigation

flydubai has temporarily suspended all flights to and from Israel’s Ben-Gurion Airport following the FZ1073 cockpit incident on Wednesday, the airline announced (https://www.jpost.com:443/middle-east/article-910234). “This temporary suspension will allow the relevant authorities to continue their work and establish all the facts surrounding the incident,” the airline said in a statement, adding that it remains in close coordination with government authorities, regulators and airport stakeholders and will review the suspension as more information becomes available (https://www.jpost.com:443/middle-east/article-910234).

The announcement followed a recommendation from the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) on Wednesday that flights between the United Arab Emirates and Israel be suspended until the investigation progresses (https://www.jpost.com:443/middle-east/article-910234). Israel is also set to ramp up security checks on pilots flying into the country, the prime minister’s office said, after a co-pilot stabbed the pilot and attempted to crash the Dubai–Tel Aviv flight; passengers helped subdue the co-pilot before the aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia (https://www.jpost.com:443/middle-east/article-910234). The Dubai state-owned airline warned against “premature speculation”, saying much remained unclear (https://www.jpost.com:443/middle-east/article-910234).

The carrier apologised to passengers whose travel plans were affected and said it is working to arrange alternative travel options (https://www.emirates247.com/uae/flydubai-suspends-all-flights-to-and-from-israel-following-fz1073-cockpit-incident/6203?ot=ot.AMPPageLayout). The UAE’s civil aviation authority, the GCAA, is investigating to determine the causes and circumstances of the incident (https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/gulf/2026/09/30/uaes-civil-aviation-authority-investigates-security-incident-on-flydubai-flight/). The aircraft’s rudder was damaged, but there were no serious injuries among the passengers, the airline told The National (https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/gulf/2026/09/30/uaes-civil-aviation-authority-investigates-security-incident-on-flydubai-flight/).

Of the 174 people on board, 166 were Israeli, according to media reports (https://english.alarabiya.net/business/aviation-and-transport/2026/10/01/flydubai-suspends-flights-to-and-from-israel-pending-investigation). The injured pilot, Indian national Smit Machchhar, is in a stable condition in a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, the Indian embassy said (https://www.firstpost.com/world/he-is-a-true-hero-netanyahu-trump-hail-indian-pilot-for-saving-flydubai-plane-from-crashing-14049550.html).