Flydubai Co-Pilot Tried to Crash Israel-Bound Jet, Netanyahu Says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of an Israel-bound flydubai passenger jet had undergone Islamist radicalization and appeared intent on crashing the aircraft.

The incident occurred Wednesday aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 170 people onboard. The captain was stabbed but managed to unlock the cockpit, allowing passengers to overpower the co-pilot. A reserve crew later made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.

Netanyahu told Fox News that information gathered about the co-pilot’s background indicated radical Islamist indoctrination and suicidal intent. However, he stressed that investigators had not reached final conclusions about the motive.

Israel identified the co-pilot as an Omani national. Two Israeli security officials said their initial assessment suggested he acted alone, while no Iranian involvement had been identified.

Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 showed the aircraft plunged more than 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds during the incident.

The United Arab Emirates has opened an investigation to determine the circumstances and motive, including whether the attack involved terrorism, advance planning or outside direction. Saudi authorities said their preliminary investigation found that the co-pilot assaulted the captain, forcing the emergency landing.

Both pilots received hospital treatment before leaving for Abu Dhabi after receiving medical clearance. Israeli intelligence agencies Mossad and Shin Bet are also investigating.

Israel’s ambassador to the UAE, Yossi Shelley, cautioned that it remained too early to determine a motive.

Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, for his actions during the crisis. The Indian embassy in the UAE said he was recovering well.

Passenger Yaniv Hayun, who helped overpower the attacker, said he rushed toward the cockpit as the aircraft descended sharply and helped stabilize the plane.

The incident has intensified aviation and security concerns in Israel ahead of the country’s upcoming election, where national security is a major campaign issue.