Investigations examine co-pilot’s motives after attack on captain of Israel-bound flight
Saudi Arabia and the UAE are investigating a co-pilot’s attack on the captain of a flydubai flight that Israeli officials described as an apparent attempt to crash the aircraft.
Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Questions remained on Thursday over the motives and background of a co-pilot who stabbed the captain of an Israel-bound passenger jet carrying more than 170 people. Israeli officials described the attack as an apparent attempt to crash the aircraft.
Passengers subdue attacker
Disaster was averted on Wednesday aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv after the wounded captain managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers to subdue the attacker. A reserve crew on board then landed the aircraft at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.
An Israeli official identified the attacker on Wednesday as an Omani national.
Saudi and UAE investigations
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacker was being investigated in Saudi Arabia and that he believed he would be taken to the United Arab Emirates.
“We’ll be following and possibly also participating in this investigation,” Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity.
The UAE has begun investigations to establish the circumstances and motives of the attack and determine “whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity or purpose, or involved prior planning or direction”, the UAE state news agency reported on Thursday.
UAE judicial authorities have jurisdiction because the aircraft is registered in the UAE and flies under its flag, the statement said. It added that UAE law applies to crimes committed on board even when they occur outside the country’s territory.
Israeli officials assess incident
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that Israel’s preliminary information indicated the co-pilot intended to crash the plane. Katz described him as a terrorist, while Netanyahu called the attack “a serious security incident”.
Asked whether there was any indication of Iranian involvement, Netanyahu said it was too early to say.
“We’ll get to the root of this attacker, whether he had accomplices, whether Iran was behind it. I think we’ll find out very soon,” he said.
There have been no official suggestions from Israel of Iranian involvement.
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