Israeli officials expected to question flydubai co-pilot over alleged attempt to crash flight

Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Israeli officials are expected to question the flydubai co-pilot who allegedly attempted to crash a passenger flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, according to a source briefed on the investigation. An Israeli government official said Israeli investigators would participate in the UAE-led inquiry alongside Emirati authorities.

Passengers and crew subdued co-pilot

Passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot on flydubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday after he stabbed the captain, averting disaster. Israeli officials have described the incident as an apparent attempt to crash the aircraft, which was carrying more than 170 passengers and crew.

A reserve flydubai pilot crew travelling on the flight landed the aircraft at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities detained the co-pilot, who was transferred to the UAE on Thursday.

Israeli participation in investigation

The source said Israeli officials were expected to question the co-pilot in the UAE but declined to identify which Israeli agency or authority would be involved.

Asked whether Israeli officials would question him, an Israeli government official told Reuters that Israeli investigators would take part in the UAE-led investigation, seeking to establish what happened and examine the suspect’s motives and background.

The UAE foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Israeli officials would question the co-pilot.

Airline supports official inquiry

In his first public comments on the incident, flydubai Chief Executive Ghaith Al Ghaith said on Friday that authorities were conducting an official investigation with the airline’s support. He described the event as a “safety incident” in the cockpit.

“It is important that we allow this process to establish the facts,” he said in a written statement, acknowledging that there were “many questions” about what happened on flight FZ1073.

The UAE state news agency reported on Thursday that Emirati authorities had opened an investigation to establish the circumstances and motives and determine “whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity or purpose, or involved prior planning or direction”.