Sources close to the United Arab Emirates criticized Israeli officials for calling potential flights from the UAE to Israel “rescue flights” and “exploiting the attack for political purposes” after Wednesday’s incident involving a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, a UAE source told The Jerusalem Post Friday.
“In Israel, they are talking about ‘rescue flights’ from the Emirates. ‘Rescue flights’ is a term used for a country where it is dangerous to be. That is simply not the case,” the source said.
The source said the UAE had agreed to Israeli requests for additional security measures following the incident and that Flydubai had also agreed to operate flights to Israel under revised procedures.
“Everything Israel asked for, the UAE said ‘yes,’” the source told the Post. “Flydubai agreed to fly to Israel under different protocols, similar to those used by Etihad, but the Israelis said ‘no.’”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets ”heroes” who intervened on a flydubai flight bound to Israel from the United Arab Emirates, in Jerusalem Thursday, 1st October 2026 (credit: AMOS BEN GERSHOM/GPO)UAE reactions to Israel’s handling of Flydubai incident
In a separate report, Ynet cited a source close to the UAE government as saying that Israel was “exploiting the attack for political purposes” by delaying the return of Flydubai flights, adding that “The elections are managing the event, not logic.”
“They are talking about ‘rescue flights,’ as if there is a war in the country,” the source said, adding that the UAE was willing to tighten procedures and conduct additional checks on flight crews.
“If passengers can be put on an Arkia flight, why not on a Flydubai flight?” the source said, according to Ynet.
The source acknowledged that “it is clear that there was a malfunction,” while claiming that Israel did not understand the significance of the incident for the UAE.
The comments came after the co-pilot of Flydubai flight FZ1073 allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to take control of the aircraft. Passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot before a reserve Flydubai crew traveling on the aircraft landed the plane in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The Omani co-pilot was detained by Saudi authorities and later transferred to the UAE.
‘Dangerous terrorist act’
UAE presidential diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash described the incident on Friday as a “dangerous terrorist act.”
The UAE state news agency reported that Emirati authorities had opened an investigation into the incident to establish its circumstances and motives and determine whether it was connected to terrorist activity, involved prior planning, or was directed by another party.
An Israeli government official told Reuters that Israeli investigators would participate in the UAE-led investigation alongside Emirati authorities to determine what happened and examine the suspect’s motives and background.