Fact-Check: Rumors of Flydubai Firing Russian and Ukrainian Pilots Over Israel Route Debunked
A viral online claim alleged that the UAE-based airline Flydubai had dismissed its Russian and Ukrainian pilots. The rumor suggested this action was taken to prevent issues with the airline's newly established flights to Tel Aviv, Israel. However, a Snopes fact-check has rated this claim as "Miscaptioned," finding it to be unsubstantiated. The photograph accompanying the claim is misleading and old, actually dating back to 2015. It shows pilots from the now-defunct Russian airline Transaero, who were protesting unpaid wages at the time, an event completely unrelated to Flydubai.
Official Source: https://www.snopes.com/news/2026/09/30/flydubai-pilots-israel-russia-ukraine/
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