Flydubai chief praises crew and passengers after mid-air emergency on Tel Aviv-bound flight

Flydubai's chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith has commended the crew and passengers aboard flight FZ1073 following a mid-air emergency that forced the plane to divert to Saudi Arabia. The statement came after Al Ghaith made his first public remarks on the situation, which unfolded on Wednesday. He expressed relief that all 172 passengers and crew members on board were safe and receiving assistance.

Al Ghaith also confirmed that the pilot, Smit Machchhar, had received medical clearance to return to the UAE. He praised the crew, captain, and pilots for securing the aircraft and landing it safely. Passengers are thanked for assisting the crew during the challenging situation. Al Ghaith further expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia for its swift and professional response to the diversion.

He acknowledged the support of UAE authorities and relevant stakeholders. The CEO noted that the airline is conducting a full official investigation led by relevant authorities, allowing the process to establish the facts. In response to the incident, Flydubai suspended operations to Tel Aviv pending further notice, as requested by authorities.

Emirates airline also suspended its codeshare operations with Flydubai between the UAE and Tel Aviv. The UAE's Attorney General, Hamad Al Shamsi, ordered an investigation into the circumstances of the incident, its motives, and whether it was linked to terrorism. Flydubai stated that its teams are supporting passengers affected by the disruption. Al Ghaith reiterated that safety remains the airline's highest priority.