Dubai-based carrier temporarily halts flights to and from Israel as aviation authorities investigate an in-flight security incident that led to an emergency diversion to Saudi Arabia.
MY AVIATION | AIRLINES & SAFETY
Flydubai has temporarily suspended flights to and from Israel following a security incident involving flight FZ1073, which was operating from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv on 30 September 2026.
The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that the flight experienced what it described as a security incident that was brought under control, requiring the aircraft to divert and make an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. The authority said some members of the aircraft crew sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for medical treatment.
The GCAA said investigation teams are working with the relevant authorities to establish the causes and circumstances surrounding the incident, including its operational and security aspects. It has also urged the public not to circulate unofficial information or pre-empt the findings of the investigation.
Following the incident, flydubai announced that flights to and from Israel would be temporarily suspended while authorities continue their investigation and verify the facts surrounding what occurred on board FZ1073. The airline reiterated that the safety and wellbeing of its passengers and crew remain its highest priority.
Emirates has also suspended its codeshare operations with flydubai on services to and from Tel Aviv until further notice. Passengers whose final destination is Tel Aviv are currently not being accepted for travel through the Emirates network under the affected codeshare arrangements.
Various accounts concerning the events inside the cockpit have circulated since the diversion. Israeli officials have made further allegations regarding the circumstances of the incident, but the precise sequence of events and motive have not yet been established through the official investigation. Flydubai and the UAE aviation authority have both emphasised the importance of allowing investigators to determine the facts before conclusions are drawn.
The aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, and the incident is now the subject of investigation involving the relevant aviation and security authorities.
For the aviation industry, the immediate priority remains the welfare of those involved, the preservation and examination of operational evidence, and an independent assessment of how the incident developed.
Until those findings are released, speculation over responsibility, motive or the precise actions of individuals on board should be treated cautiously.
My Aviation will continue to follow official updates from flydubai and the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority as the investigation progresses.
My Aviation | Airlines & Safety | 1 October 2026
