Flydubai Tel Aviv flights still delayed after UAE jet diverted to Saudi Arabia

Sources close to the United Arab Emirates government have pushed back at Israeli officials' description of flights from the Emirates as "rescue flights", after a flydubai aircraft bound for Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia on 30 September 2026 following an emergency signal. The dispute comes as flydubai flights to Ben-Gurion Airport remain delayed, affecting travellers flying between the UAE and Israel.

Key facts

• A flydubai flight from the UAE to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia on 30 September 2026 after an emergency signal.
• Passengers from that aircraft were flown to Ben-Gurion International Airport on 30 September 2026.
• The UAE says it agreed to Israeli requests for extra security measures and revised flydubai procedures.
• Israel says the return of Israelis from the UAE has never been defined as a rescue operation.
• Flydubai flights to Ben-Gurion Airport are being delayed, according to a source close to the UAE government.

What has happened since the flydubai incident?

A UAE source said the Emirates had accepted every Israeli request for additional security measures after the incident, and that flydubai had agreed to operate flights to Israel under revised procedures similar to those used by Etihad. The source said Israel rejected those arrangements.

A source close to the UAE government, cited in a separate report by Ynet, said Israel was delaying the return of flydubai flights to Ben-Gurion Airport and accused it of "exploiting the attack for political purposes". The same source acknowledged that "it is clear that there was a malfunction", but said Israel did not fully understand the significance of the incident for the UAE.

Why are the two sides arguing over 'rescue flights'?

The UAE source objected to the term "rescue flights" being used for flights from the Emirates, saying it implies a country where it is dangerous to be, which the source said is not the case. The source also questioned why passengers could be carried on an Arkia flight but not on a flydubai flight.

A senior Israeli official responded that the return of Israelis from the UAE has never been defined as a rescue operation, and that the use of the term by private companies is not related to the state. Israelis staying in the Emirates are not stranded and do not need rescue, the official said.

What this means for travellers

Travellers booked on flydubai services between the UAE and Israel should be aware that flights to Ben-Gurion Airport are being delayed. The source close to the UAE government said the Emirates was willing to tighten procedures and carry out additional checks on flight crews.

No timeline has been announced for when flydubai flights to Ben-Gurion Airport will return to normal.