Today's Edition
ABU DAHBI (ALETIHAD)
All 172 passengers and crew on board flydubai flight FZ 1073 are safe following a safety incident in the flight deck that led to the aircraft being diverted from its Dubai-Tel Aviv route to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia on September 30, flydubai Chief Executive Officer Ghaith Al Ghaith said.
In a statement issued on Friday, Al Ghaith confirmed that the aircraft's Captain had returned to the UAE following medical clearance, while flydubai continues to provide support to all those affected by the incident.
He expressed his gratitude to the Captain, the pilots who secured the aircraft and landed it safely, and the cabin crew, while also thanking passengers who assisted the crew during the incident.
Al Ghaith also expressed flydubai's appreciation to the authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their "swift and professional response", as well as to the UAE authorities and relevant stakeholders for their support in helping passengers and crew return home.
At the request of the authorities, flydubai has temporarily suspended operations to Tel Aviv until further notice.
The airline's teams are continuing to support passengers affected by the disruption and assist them in reaching their final destinations.
Official investigation underway
Al Ghaith said a full official investigation into the incident is underway, led by the relevant authorities and fully supported by flydubai.
"There are many questions about what happened on board FZ 1073," he said, stressing the importance of allowing the investigation to establish the facts.
Al Ghaith said flydubai was "deeply grateful" that everyone on board the flight was safe, while expressing appreciation for the continued support of the airline's customers, employees and industry partners.
"Safety is, and always will be, our highest priority," he said.
