New Saudi Statement Regarding Passengers of "Fly Dubai" Flight

Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, announced on Wednesday that all passengers on the Flydubai flight that made an emergency landing at the airport had “departed to their final destinations.” A statement said: “All passengers on the flight have left for their final destination, on board the alternative plane that departed at exactly 5:40 pm.”

He continued: "We reaffirm our commitment to the regulations and instructions issued by the General Civil Aviation Authority in accordance with international treaties and agreements related to the safety of air navigation, passengers, and cabin crews." A new Flydubai plane was sent to Tabuk Airport to transport the passengers who landed there, after their original flight was diverted following what officials described as a hijacking attempt.

The families of the passengers - who gathered at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv - had been informed that the plane would land at 6:15 pm local time, but this time appears to have now changed to 6:25 pm local time, according to data on expected arrival times at the airport.