Arkia dispatched its first repatriation flight to Dubai on 2 October, while Israir announced that it had received final approval from Emirati authorities to operate flights. The services are intended to bring home travellers affected by the suspension following the FZ1073 incident.
El Al cancelled its planned flights after authorities revoked its landing permission, according to The Jerusalem Post. The airline said it would operate once permission was granted. These developments confirm progress beyond the earlier plans, although the airline has not yet verified completed return flights.
The first confirmed repatriation flight for travellers stranded after flydubai suspended its Israel services departed Dubai for Tel Aviv on 2 October. The flight was operated by Arkia, following approval from the Emirati authorities.
Arkia is also authorised to operate another service on Saturday and is seeking approval for additional weekend flights. There remains no published finding on the motive behind the FZ1073 cockpit attack.
The first Arkia repatriation flight carrying travellers stranded by flydubai’s suspension landed at Tel Aviv shortly after 01:00 on 3 October, completing the first confirmed return service from Dubai. Further Arkia and Israir flights were scheduled for Saturday, with El Al services expected from Sunday.
No official investigation findings on the FZ1073 co-pilot’s motive or possible external links have been released. Israeli allegations of radicalisation remain unsubstantiated publicly.
The co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of flydubai flight FZ1073 had previously been barred from flying in Oman over concerns about extremist views, according to AP and The Wall Street Journal, citing an anonymous person familiar with the investigation. He was subsequently employed by flydubai; how extensively his background was checked remains unclear.
ABC News separately reports, citing intelligence and law-enforcement sources, that Oman Air suspended him from flying for a year in 2024 after extremist material was allegedly found in his possession, although he continued in an administrative role.
These claims have not been publicly confirmed by Oman, flydubai or the UAE investigation, and no official conclusion on motive or external involvement has been announced.
Source: apnews.com, ABC News
The UAE Attorney-General has disclosed that the co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 attacked the captain with the aircraft’s emergency crash axe and attempted to seize the flight controls. This is the first official confirmation of the weapon used and the alleged attempt to take control of the aircraft. Investigators continue to examine the motive, possible advance planning and any links to extremist groups.
Separately, unnamed diplomatic sources identified the co-pilot as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami and alleged that he had previously been barred from flying in Oman over concerns about extremist views. Neither Oman nor flydubai has publicly confirmed that employment history, so it remains an allegation rather than an established investigative finding. apnews.com
Captain Smit Machchhar is back in the UAE in good condition and receiving medical treatment. The authorities have not yet published a final finding on motive or whether anyone else was involved. Emirates News Agency
Arkia and Israir both operated repatriation flights from Dubai to Tel Aviv overnight, confirming that a second Israeli carrier has now brought stranded travellers home following flydubai’s suspension.
Passengers were not permitted to take their checked luggage on the special services. Israel subsequently dispatched dedicated cargo aircraft to Dubai to retrieve the bags, according to the office of Defence Minister Israel Katz.
There remains no new official finding on the FZ1073 co-pilot’s motive or possible links to others.
Source: The Times of Israel
This post was published on 3 October 2026 15:30
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