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Dubai-based carrier “flydubai” has temporarily suspended flights to Tel Aviv at the request of authorities after an incident in the cockpit of one of its aircraft, chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith said on Friday.
“At the request of the authorities, we have temporarily suspended operations to Tel Aviv until further notice,” Al Ghaith said in a statement carried by the Dubai Media Office. The airline is assisting affected passengers with arrangements to reach their final destinations, he added.
All passengers and crew are safe
Al Ghaith said all 172 passengers and crew aboard flight FZ1073 were safe and receiving support. The flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Sept. 30 when it diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following what the airline described as a “safety incident in the flight deck.”
The captain, who was injured during the incident, has returned to the UAE after receiving medical clearance, Al Ghaith said. He praised the captain and other pilots for securing the aircraft and landing it safely, and thanked the cabin crew and passengers who helped.
Investigation under way
The flight was granted permission to make an emergency landing on Wednesday at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk. A full official investigation led by the relevant authorities, with support from “flydubai,” is under way, Al Ghaith said.
“Flydubai” said an altercation occurred in the flight deck and crew members secured the aircraft before it diverted safely to Saudi Arabia. Airport officials said the captain and first officer were injured and taken to hospital.
UAE authorities said on Thursday that the investigation would examine whether the cockpit altercation was linked to “terrorist activity” or involved prior planning or direction. Al Ghaith said there were many questions about what happened aboard FZ1073 and urged that the investigation be allowed to establish the facts.
