Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel may participate in the investigation into a serious incident aboard a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, while investigators examine the motive of the co-pilot involved.
Speaking to Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday, Netanyahu said investigators would seek to determine whether the co-pilot had accomplices and whether Iran was involved. He stressed, however, that it was too early to draw conclusions about any Iranian connection.
The incident occurred aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to Israeli officials, the co-pilot stabbed the captain and the aircraft then entered a steep descent, losing almost 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.
Passengers and crew members intervened and entered the cockpit, overpowered the co-pilot and helped regain control of the aircraft. Two additional flydubai pilots who were travelling on the flight then assisted in stabilising the aircraft.
The plane was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. The passengers later continued their journey to Israel. Fox News reported that the aircraft was carrying around 170 people.
Netanyahu said the co-pilot was being investigated in Saudi Arabia and could later be transferred to the United Arab Emirates, where the flight originated. He said Israeli authorities would follow the investigation and could participate in it.
Fox News says Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the incident as an “attempted jihadist terrorist attack”, saying preliminary information indicated that the alleged attacker intended to crash the aircraft. However, that characterisation has not been independently established.
According to Fox News, Flydubai has confirmed that an altercation occurred in the flight deck and that the aircraft diverted safely to Tabuk. The airline has said the underlying reasons and motives remain unknown and urged against premature speculation while authorities investigate.
The incident has raised questions about aviation security and the circumstances surrounding the cockpit confrontation, while the investigation continues.
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