Emirates and flydubai suspend Tel Aviv connections following knife attack on flight

In-flight attack on flydubai service

On Wednesday morning, an attempted hijacking took place aboard a flydubai passenger aircraft flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to accounts released by Israeli authorities, the flight co-pilot produced a knife inside the cockpit and launched an attack against the captain. The co-pilot attempted to force the aircraft into a deliberate crash during the flight. Three passengers on board intervened directly, entered the cockpit cabin, and managed to overpower the armed attacker. Two other commercial pilots who happened to be travelling on the aircraft as regular passengers then stepped forward to assume control of the flight deck. They safely navigated the airliner away from its intended destination and executed an emergency landing inside Saudi Arabian territory.

Immediate flight bans and code-share suspensions

In the immediate aftermath of the Wednesday attack, flydubai cancelled and suspended its direct air corridor connecting Dubai and Tel Aviv. On Thursday, United Arab Emirates state carriers Emirates and flydubai announced a complete suspension of all shared code-share services to Tel Aviv, effective immediately and lasting until further notice. Under this operating policy, passengers whose ultimate destination is Tel Aviv will not be permitted to board Emirates or flydubai aircraft from any point of origin around the world. The restriction blocks travellers at their initial departure airport even if their itinerary only involves an initial transit flight into Dubai before an intended transfer to Israel.

Passengers who are already en route to Tel Aviv will be accommodated and provided with all possible support to complete their journey.

State ownership and legal investigation

The Attorney General of the United Arab Emirates formally ordered an official investigation on Thursday to examine the circumstances of the cockpit assault. Judicial authorities in the UAE are investigating whether the incident had direct connections to terrorist operations. The state prosecutors are also seeking to determine if the attack was premeditated or carried out under instructions from external entities or individuals. While Emirates and flydubai operate as distinct commercial airlines, both enterprises are owned by Dubai's state investment fund, collaborating closely on international route networks and shared code-share ticketing.

Global passenger disruption and airline response

The immediate suspension of flights has affected numerous Israeli travellers across global airports who were booked on connecting routes through Dubai. Airline officials advised all affected ticket holders to contact their travel agencies or the Emirates customer service centre to resolve booking disruptions. Passengers were also directed to check the emirates.com website for the latest operational guidance and flight status updates. For individuals already mid-transit when the announcement was issued on Thursday, airline representatives confirmed that ground accommodation and logistical support would be arranged to help them complete their travel.