El Al Airlines has been forced to cancel two special repatriation flights intended to bring Israelis back home from Dubai, after failing to receive the necessary landing permissions from United Arab Emirates authorities. The cancellations come amid a backdrop of disrupted travel services between Dubai and Tel Aviv, following a serious incident on a flydubai flight.
The special flights were arranged to assist Israelis stranded in Dubai during the Sukkot holiday period, especially after flydubai suspended its services on this route. El Al indicated that it remains prepared to operate these repatriation flights as soon as the required permissions and security measures are finalized.
Despite the cancellation of these special flights, El Al plans to resume its regular services from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Sunday. However, these flights are already heavily booked for the upcoming week, leaving limited options for those still aiming to return home.
The travel disruption originated from an incident involving a flydubai flight where the co-pilot allegedly attacked the pilot mid-flight. Passengers reportedly intervened to help subdue the co-pilot, allowing other pilots to take control of the aircraft and redirect it to Saudi Arabia. This incident has led to increased scrutiny and temporary suspension of flydubai’s services on the route, prompting El Al to step in with special flights to manage the situation.