UAE says 37 Dubai–Tel Aviv flights carried 7,479 passengers after flydubai suspension
In short
The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority said it completed the transfer of passengers to Tel Aviv after flydubai's temporary suspension of flights there, with 37 flights from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport carrying 7,479 passengers between Friday, 2 October, and Monday, 5 October, 2026. The authority said stranded passengers had all returned to their destinations, and that Etihad Airways continues its scheduled Tel Aviv flights while Israeli carriers were granted permits to fly to Dubai. The National reported the UAE Attorney General, Hamad Al Shamsi, saying investigations continue into flydubai flight FZ1073, which was forced to land in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, last Wednesday after the pilot was attacked by his co-pilot in what he described as an “attempted terrorist attack”.
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The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority said it has completed the transfer of passengers to Tel Aviv following the temporary suspension of flydubai flights to the Israeli city. The authority said 37 flights were operated from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport since Friday, 2 October, 2026, carrying 7,479 passengers. [ 1 , 3 ]
The GCAA said coordination for the return of passengers whose flights were disrupted and who were left stranded has been completed, and that they have returned to their destinations. It said it continues coordination with all relevant authorities and the airlines concerned in support of the continuity of air transport and passenger service. [ 1 , 3 ]
As part of the measures taken as an alternative to the regular scheduled flights affected by the suspension, authorities in the country granted permits to Israeli carriers to operate flights to Dubai, the GCAA said. Those flights operated alongside services run by Etihad Airways, which the authority said continues to fly to Tel Aviv on its regular schedule, expanding the travel options available to passengers. [ 1 , 3 ]
The National reported that the suspension followed an incident on flydubai flight FZ1073 last Wednesday, which was forced to land in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the pilot was attacked by his co-pilot in what UAE Attorney General Hamad Al Shamsi described as an “attempted terrorist attack”. Al Shamsi said investigations were continuing to establish the full circumstances, motives and any links related to the flight. [ 3 ]
The documents do not say when flydubai's scheduled Tel Aviv services might resume, nor how the 37 replacement flights were divided between Israeli carriers and Etihad. Gulf News's related coverage refers to the FZ1073 event as a “security incident”, while The National quotes the Attorney General's “attempted terrorist attack” description. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The arrangement kept the Dubai–Tel Aviv route operating during the flydubai suspension, with permits for Israeli carriers and continued Etihad services offering passengers alternatives, according to the GCAA. The authority said it is continuing coordination with authorities and airlines to maintain air transport and passenger service. The Attorney General's continuing investigation means the circumstances and any links around the FZ1073 incident have not yet been established.
Key facts
- The GCAA said 37 flights were operated from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport carrying 7,479 passengers between Friday, 2 October, and Monday, 5 October, 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The transfers followed the temporary suspension of flydubai flights to Tel Aviv. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The GCAA said coordination for the return of passengers whose flights were disrupted and who were left stranded has been completed, and that they have returned to their destinations. [ 1 , 3 ]
- UAE authorities granted permits to Israeli carriers to operate flights to Dubai as an alternative to the affected scheduled flights. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Etihad Airways continues to operate its flights to Tel Aviv on its regular schedule, according to the GCAA. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The National reported that UAE Attorney General Hamad Al Shamsi said investigations continue into flight FZ1073, forced to land in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, last Wednesday after the pilot was attacked by his co-pilot in an “attempted terrorist attack”. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Flydubai flights to Tel Aviv were temporarily suspended, and an alternative arrangement was put in place. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The GCAA said 37 flights from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport carried 7,479 passengers between 2 and 5 October, 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The GCAA said passengers whose flights were disrupted and who were left stranded have returned to their destinations. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Israeli carriers were granted permits to operate flights to Dubai alongside Etihad Airways services. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Etihad Airways continues to operate its scheduled flights to Tel Aviv. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The full circumstances, motives and any links connected to flight FZ1073. Only The National carries the Attorney General's statement, and he said the investigation is continuing to establish the full circumstances, motives and any links.
- When flydubai's scheduled Tel Aviv services will resume. The documents describe the suspension as temporary but give no date for a resumption.
- How the FZ1073 incident should be characterised. The National quotes the Attorney General describing an “attempted terrorist attack”, while Gulf News's related coverage refers to an FZ1073 “security incident”; the documents do not resolve the difference.
- How many of the 7,479 passengers were originally stranded flydubai passengers, and how the 37 flights were divided between Israeli carriers and Etihad. The GCAA gives a combined figure for the 37 flights and does not break it down by carrier or by passenger category.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Wednesday: flydubai flight FZ1073 is forced to land in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the pilot is attacked by his co-pilot in what the UAE Attorney General describes as an “attempted terrorist attack”. [ 3 ]
- Friday, 2 October 2026: the operation of replacement flights from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport begins. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The GCAA announces that the transfer of passengers to Tel Aviv is complete, with 37 flights carrying 7,479 passengers since 2 October and Etihad continuing its scheduled services. [ 1 ]
- Arabian Business reports the GCAA's figures for the Dubai–Tel Aviv flights and Etihad's continuing service. [ 2 ]
- The National reports the same figures and adds that the Attorney General says the FZ1073 investigation is continuing. [ 3 ]