Netanyahu says flydubai co-pilot who stabbed captain was suicidal and had undergone Islamist indoctrination
Israel’s prime minister cited preliminary indications about the co-pilot as UAE investigators examined the attack on a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight that landed in Saudi Arabia.
Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that the co-pilot who stabbed the captain of a flydubai passenger jet in an apparent attempt to crash it had undergone radical Islamist indoctrination and was clearly suicidal. The aircraft, carrying more than 170 people, landed at Tabuk airport on Wednesday after passengers subdued the attacker.
Passengers intervened after captain opened cockpit
Disaster was averted on flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv after the wounded captain managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers to subdue the co-pilot. A reserve crew travelling aboard the aircraft then landed it in Saudi Arabia.
The plane plunged more than 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds during the incident while flying over Saudi Arabia on its journey from the United Arab Emirates to Israel, according to flight-tracking website Flightradar24.
Israel cites preliminary assessment
“We know that he underwent Islamist radical indoctrination. That appears to be something we are gathering from his personal information,” Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News.
Two Israeli security officials said Israel’s initial assessment was that the co-pilot, identified by Israeli officials as an Omani national, was likely acting alone. The investigation remained ongoing.
Netanyahu said it was clear that the co-pilot was suicidal and that it appeared very likely he intended to bring down the aircraft. He cited what he described as Islamist tendencies and radicalisation in the co-pilot’s background as indications, without elaborating.
“But again, I don’t make final conclusions yet. But that’s the indications we have now,” he added.
UAE investigates circumstances and motive
The United Arab Emirates has launched investigations to establish the circumstances and motives of the incident, the UAE state news agency reported Thursday.
Investigators are seeking to determine “whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity or purpose, or involved prior planning or direction”, the agency said.
Israel’s envoy to the UAE, Yossi Shelley, earlier told Reuters that it was too early to draw conclusions and that no motive had been determined.
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