El Al cancels repatriation flights for Israelis stranded in Dubai

Israeli airline El Al canceled two special flights scheduled for October 2, 2026, which were intended to repatriate Israeli citizens stranded in Dubai. The travelers had become stuck following the suspension of services by the UAE-based carrier flydubai. While El Al initially confirmed the cancellations without providing specific reasons, reports from Israeli media suggest the decision stemmed from the airline's failure to secure necessary landing permits from the authorities in the United Arab Emirates.

The suspension of flights follows a serious mid-air incident on Wednesday, September 30, involving a flydubai flight to Tel Aviv, which was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The diversion occurred after a violent altercation in the cockpit where the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain. UAE authorities are currently investigating the incident, including potential motives such as terrorism. El Al, which recently announced plans to resume regular flights to Dubai in November, has stated that repatriation efforts will proceed once the required authorizations are granted.