Violence in the cockpit: El Al postpones repatriation flights from the Emirates

After the violence in a cockpit of the Emirati airline Flydubai, the Israeli airline El Al is postponing its repatriation flights for Israeli passengers waiting in the United Arab Emirates.

The company said the reason was that the United Arab Emirates had withdrawn the airline's landing permit in Dubai. No details were initially given. El Al also announced that its flights for Friday had been canceled as a result.

According to El Al, two flights were scheduled to depart Dubai at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (local time). The airline now wants to offer flights from Sunday and the following days. According to Israeli media, all places are already fully booked. The Israeli airlines Arkia and Israir are also supposed to bring Israelis back. Arkia also has a flight scheduled for today. The Israeli news site “ynet” wrote that it is by no means certain whether this will take place.

Israel's Ministry of Transport had previously announced that the repatriation flights would begin on Friday, but at the same time said that they could be delayed, among other things, due to the coordination of the security authorities.

Israeli broadcaster N12 reported that hours of talks between senior Israeli and Emirati officials had failed to produce any final agreements or approvals for Israeli planes to land.

Reports: More than 10,000 Israelis stranded

Israeli media reported that more than 10,000 Israelis were stranded in Dubai and other locations. Those affected, who are now stuck in other countries, originally wanted to fly back to Israel via Dubai. The airline Flydubai had previously announced it would suspend its flights to and from Israel following Wednesday's violent incident while investigations continued.

The Emirati flight was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday when the violent altercation occurred in the cockpit. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the co-pilot stabbed his colleague. The plane reportedly went into a nosedive. After the suspected attacker was overpowered, the plane was able to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia - a second crew traveling in the cabin took over the controls.

Israel's government assumes an attempted jihadist terrorist attack by the co-pilot from Oman - but important questions remain unanswered.