Emirates has suspended all of its codeshare flights with flydubai to and from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport until further notice, widening the fallout from Wednesday’s dramatic security incident aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073.

The suspension took effect immediately and means passengers traveling on Emirates itineraries with Tel Aviv as their final destination will not even be permitted to board the first leg of their journey to Dubai.

“Passengers whose final destination is Tel Aviv will not be accepted for travel at the point of origin,” Emirates said in an official travel update.

The move is particularly significant because Emirates does not operate its own aircraft between Dubai and Tel Aviv. Passengers booking Israel itineraries through Emirates typically fly aboard Emirates to Dubai before connecting to a flydubai-operated flight to Ben Gurion Airport.

With flydubai suspending its Israel service, Emirates is effectively preventing passengers from beginning trips that could leave them stranded in Dubai.

Emirates said passengers who are already traveling will be assisted.

“Customers already en route to Tel Aviv will be accommodated and provided with all possible support to complete their journeys,” the airline said.

The carrier advised affected passengers to contact their travel agents or the Emirates contact center and ensure their contact information is updated so they can receive further notifications.

The suspension follows Wednesday’s extraordinary incident aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following an altercation in the cockpit.

The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that a security incident occurred aboard the aircraft and that crew members were injured. UAE authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances and motives behind the incident, including whether it was connected to terrorist activity or involved advance planning.

Flydubai subsequently suspended all flights to and from Israel while the investigation continues.

The disruption has left large numbers of Israeli travelers scrambling for alternatives. Israel’s Transportation Ministry announced Thursday that El Al, Arkia and Israir are preparing special one-way repatriation flights from Dubai beginning Friday, subject to final security approval. The Israeli government will partially subsidize the operation because the aircraft will fly from Israel to Dubai empty before returning with stranded passengers.

Emirates has not provided a timetable for when its Tel Aviv codeshare service could resume, saying only that the suspension remains in effect “until further notice.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)