Incident Overview
A FlyDubai co-pilot attempted to crash a passenger plane on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Passengers and crew subdued him, preventing a disaster. The plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, with 174 people on board. No passengers suffered severe injuries. The flight captain, who was attacked, sustained stab wounds.
Co-pilot’s Identity
The co-pilot responsible has not been publicly identified. However, an Omani official stated he was born in Oman and holds Omani citizenship. The Omani government has not verified this information publicly.
Search for Motive
The motive behind the co-pilot’s actions remains unclear. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested it might have been a suicide attempt. Witnesses reported he tampered with the plane’s equipment. After passengers intervened, he allegedly called for someone to kill him.
“Personal information led us to believe he underwent Islamist radical indoctrination.” – Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu
Authorities are investigating whether the incident was a lone act or a broader terror attempt, similar to the Sept. 11 attacks.
Statements from Israeli Officials
Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz referred to the co-pilot as a terrorist. Katz labeled the incident as an attempted jihadist terror attack. Netanyahu warned of rising security threats linked to tensions with Iran-allied groups.
Ongoing Interrogation
The co-pilot is detained in Saudi Arabia, where authorities are questioning him. UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan indicated plans to transfer him to the UAE for further questioning. Israeli authorities intend to join this process to uncover more details about the incident.
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