An Israeli aircraft operated by low-cost carrier Arkia left Dubai International Airport for Tel Aviv Airport on Friday evening, in the first flight of its kind since an incident involving a Flydubai aircraft on an earlier journey along the same route.
Dubai Airports data showed Arkia flight IZ604 departing from the airport. The flight operated as Flydubai continued to temporarily suspend its flights to Israel pending the completion of an investigation into an assault that occurred aboard one of its aircraft travelling to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, before it made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Flydubai suspends Tel Aviv flights at authorities’ request
The UAE’s Flydubai had decided to suspend its flights to Tel Aviv at the authorities’ request, following the incident aboard the aircraft and its emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The company’s chief executive, Ghaith Al Ghaith, announced the suspension in a statement outlining the carrier’s measures to address the incident’s repercussions and assist affected passengers.
Al Ghaith said: “At the request of the authorities, we have temporarily suspended our flights to Tel Aviv until further notice. Our teams are working around the clock to support passengers whose travel plans have been disrupted and help them reach their final destinations.” The company’s flights will therefore remain suspended until further notice, while its teams continue to address travel plans disrupted by the decision.
172 passengers and crew members safe on flight
The chief executive confirmed that everyone on board the flight was safe, stating that the number of passengers and crew members totalled 172. The aircraft had been travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on 30 September, before it was forced to land in Saudi Arabia following the incident that occurred during the flight.
Al Ghaith said the aircraft’s captain was injured in the incident but returned to the UAE after receiving medical clearance to do so. He also confirmed that the company had begun procedures to establish the circumstances of the incident, saying: “We are currently conducting a comprehensive official investigation into flight FZ1073.”
