Evacuation of Israelis from Dubai - Katz gave an urgent order

Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered cargo planes to be sent to Dubai to deliver the luggage of Israeli passengers left behind on repatriation flights following an attempted hijacking of Flydubai flight 1073. The first plane is expected to depart within the next hour. El Al canceled its scheduled evacuation flights for today, but the operation continues.

Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered cargo planes to be sent to Dubai to deliver the luggage of Israeli passengers left behind on repatriation flights. The first plane is expected to depart within the next hour. This decision followed an attempted hijacking of Flydubai flight 1073, after which passengers were prohibited from taking luggage on special repatriation flights from Dubai. Flydubai suspended flights on the Dubai-Tel Aviv route. Repatriation flights are being operated by Israeli airlines El Al, Arkia, and Israir. The first two flights were organized by Arkia and Israir on Friday night. El Al canceled its scheduled evacuation flights from Dubai for today. The operation to return Israelis continues, with additional flights scheduled for Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday of next week. Arkia also opened ticket sales for special flights from Dubai starting at $279, warning that the schedule may change at the request of authorities and that luggage will be transported separately. Earlier, Katz commented on the Flydubai incident, emphasizing that intelligence-based warnings must be taken seriously.