Israel Starts Dubai Rescue Flights for 10,000 Stranded Citizens as UAE Permit Reversal Delays Departures
Updated
Updated · Arutz Sheva · Oct 2
Israel Starts Dubai Rescue Flights for 10,000 Stranded Citizens as UAE Permit Reversal Delays Departures
3 articles · Updated · Arutz Sheva · Oct 2
Summary
Friday rescue flights from Dubai to Ben Gurion will go ahead on Israeli carriers, but Israel’s Transportation Ministry said departures will be delayed during the day.
The delays followed the UAE’s last-minute revocation of landing permits for the repatriation flights, forcing urgent intervention by Israel’s security establishment and Civil Aviation Authority.
About 10,000 Israelis are seeking to return home, including citizens in Dubai and passengers stranded elsewhere in Asia, such as Thailand and India.
Flydubai’s suspension of its Israel route after a foiled hijacking attempt on Wednesday triggered the wider travel disruption that left Israel scrambling to organize rescue flights.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich ordered immediate funding for the operation on Thursday night, with the Finance Ministry finalizing transfers to remove any remaining budget obstacle.