Flydubai service to and from Israel will be suspended for six days beginning Thursday following the dramatic cockpit attack aboard a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight, as Israeli and Emirati authorities reassess security arrangements and investigators work to determine whether the alleged attacker acted alone or as part of a broader plot.
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During the suspension, arrangements are being made for secured Israeli aircraft to provide replacement service. The six-day halt was coordinated between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, including discussions at the highest levels of the two governments.
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The decision follows Wednesday’s extraordinary incident aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when an Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit.
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According to Israeli officials, the co-pilot stabbed Machchhar and then attempted to bring down the Boeing 737 MAX 8 carrying Israelis and other passengers. The aircraft went into a rapid descent before passengers and crew members intervened and subdued the alleged attacker.
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The plane transmitted emergency codes during the crisis, including 7500, the international transponder code indicating hijacking or unlawful interference, prompting an immediate security response as the aircraft changed course.
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Machchhar, despite being wounded, reportedly fought back and helped enable others to gain access to the cockpit. Additional pilots traveling aboard the flight subsequently helped regain control of the aircraft.
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The plane was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. The alleged attacker was taken into Saudi custody, while Machchhar received medical treatment for his wounds.
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Saudi authorities are continuing to question the co-pilot as investigators attempt to establish his motive and determine whether he acted independently or had connections to a hostile state or terrorist organization.
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No public evidence had emerged Wednesday night establishing that the co-pilot was acting on behalf of Iran, an Iranian proxy or any other organization. Israeli authorities were nevertheless examining whether outside parties were involved.
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Israeli diplomatic officials have raised the possibility that the choice of an Emirati airline was deliberate and intended to strike at one of the most visible symbols of the Abraham Accords: the direct aviation link between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
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Flydubai began regular Tel Aviv service shortly after Israel and the UAE normalized relations in 2020 and has since become one of the most important foreign airlines operating at Ben Gurion Airport.
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The airline also continued serving Israel during periods of war and heightened regional tensions when many major international carriers canceled their flights, making Wednesday’s incident particularly significant for aviation ties between the two countries.
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Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu spoke with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed following the attack, with the two leaders discussing security arrangements for flights operating between their countries.
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Israeli authorities are now reviewing security procedures involving foreign flight crews operating routes into Israel, with particular attention being paid to how pilots assigned to Israel-bound flights are screened.
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The government is also concerned about the possibility of copycat attacks following the extraordinary events aboard FZ1073, and security precautions involving Israeli aviation and other potential targets have been increased around the world.
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The investigation is now focused heavily on the background of the Omani co-pilot, how he came to be assigned to a flight bound for Israel and whether there were any warning signs before Wednesday’s flight.
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For now, the immediate result is a six-day interruption of one of the most important aviation links created by the Abraham Accords, with secured Israeli aircraft expected to fill the gap while Israel, the UAE and Saudi authorities work to determine exactly what happened aboard FZ1073 and whether the attack was part of something larger.