flydubai suspends flights to Israel after FZ1073 'security incident'

Dubai: Dubai carrier flydubai said late Wednesday it was suspending flights to and from Israel following an incident involving flight FZ1073, as authorities investigate what happened.

The suspension will remain in place while the investigation continues, the airline said.

“The safety and wellbeing of our passengers, crew and operations remain our highest priority,” flydubai said in a statement.

The airline said the temporary suspension would allow relevant authorities to continue their work and establish the facts surrounding the incident.

Dubai's flagship carrier Emirates has also suspended its code share flights to Tel Aviv following the incident.

flydubai said it was fully supporting the investigation and remained in coordination with government authorities, regulators and airport stakeholders.

It said it would review the suspension as more information becomes available.

The airline did not provide further details about the incident in its most recent statement. The announcement followed an incident on a flight from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.

“An altercation occurred in the flight deck of flight FZ1073, operating from Dubai International (DXB) to Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV), on September 30,” flydubai said.

The aircraft was secured by flydubai crew travelling on the flight, who diverted and landed it safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, the airline said.

“All passengers and crew are safe and accounted for,” it added.

flydubai said it had deployed two replacement aircraft to Tabuk to relieve the passengers and crew.

The airline said the incident had not affected other scheduled operations across its network.

“At this early stage, the underlying reasons and motives behind this event are unknown and remain subject to a formal investigation,” flydubai had said.

“We urge all parties to refrain from premature speculation while authorities gather the facts.”

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority also confirmed that the aircraft had experienced a security incident that was brought under control.

The authority said the diversion resulted in an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport and that some members of the aircraft crew were injured and taken to hospital in Saudi Arabia.

The GCAA said its investigation teams, working with the relevant authorities, were examining the causes and circumstances of the incident, including its operational and security aspects.

It urged the public not to circulate unofficial information or pre-empt the findings of the investigation.

Earlier on Wednesday, unconfirmed reports citing flight-tracking data had prompted speculation about an emergency on the flight.

Flightradar24 data showed the aircraft using transponder code 7700, the general emergency code used to alert air traffic control to an emergency.

The aircraft had earlier displayed code 7500, which is used to indicate unlawful interference, before switching to 7700, according to the flight-tracking data.

flydubai has said the underlying reasons and motives remain subject to formal investigation.