First Arkia Repatriation Flight Lands in Tel Aviv After flydubai Assault

• First repatriation flight from the United Arab Emirates lands in Tel Aviv
• Follows suspension after a flydubai attack

Updated 3 min 51 sec ago

October 3, 2026 08:32

TEL AVIV: The first flight bringing Israelis back from the United Arab Emirates touched down in Tel Aviv early Saturday, after services were halted following the flydubai incident, according to Israel’s airport authority. The arrival, dubbed a repatriation flight by Israeli media, followed a tense episode on Wednesday’s Dubai‑Tel Aviv route that officials say narrowly avoided disaster. During the flydubai episode, the aircraft’s Indian captain was attacked by his co‑pilot but managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to subdue the assailant and force an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. UAE authorities are investigating the assault and have not yet established a motive, though Israeli and U.S. officials have hinted at possible ties to Islamist extremism or Iran. The Saturday repatriation service, operated by Arkia, landed at Ben Gurion Airport shortly after 1:00 a.m. local time (2200 GMT Friday), per the airport’s online arrivals. The Arkia flight departed Dubai on Friday, marking the first Israeli‑operated departure from the Emirates since flydubai suspended its Israel‑Tel Aviv route and El Al canceled its planned flights to repatriate Israelis.

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