Dubai:The first Israeli flight aimed at repatriating citizens stranded in the United Arab Emirates took off from Dubai late on Friday. This development follows the suspension of Flydubai services between Israel and the UAE.

According to Anadolu Agency, an Arkia flight departed from Dubai with Israeli passengers who were left stranded after an attempted hijacking incident involving a Flydubai aircraft. The Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported that Israeli security authorities allowed Israeli airlines to operate repatriation flights from Dubai, although the number of affected passengers remains unspecified.

In this initial phase of repatriation, passengers are not permitted to place luggage in the aircraft hold due to the absence of a dedicated security system. KAN quoted a source knowledgeable about air traffic between the two nations, indicating that Emirati authorities are in communication with Israeli counterparts to prevent the situation from escalating into a broader crisis that could lead to a prolonged suspension of flights.

Flydubai emphasized the necessity of an official investigation to ascertain the facts of the incident, which transpired on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, El Al, another Israeli airline, canceled planned flights to evacuate Israelis from Dubai after the UAE rescinded previously granted landing permissions.

The incident involved Flight FZ1073 and occurred inside the cockpit, though details and motives remain unclear. An official investigation is ongoing. Flydubai has temporarily halted flights to and from Tel Aviv, prioritizing the safety and well-being of passengers, crew, and operations. The airline stated that this suspension would facilitate a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the incident.