Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the co-pilot accused of trying to crash a Flydubai passenger plane bound for Israel had undergone what he described as “Islamist radical indoctrination.”
The incident happened on Wednesday aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and the aircraft subsequently made a sharp descent before passengers intervened and helped regain control of the plane.
The aircraft, carrying more than 170 people, was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. The wounded captain, Indian national Smit Machchhar, was later reported to be recovering well. Passengers who helped restrain the attacker have been praised for their actions.
Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu said information gathered from the suspect’s personal background indicated that he had been exposed to radical Islamist ideology. He also said the attacker appeared to have been suicidal and may have intended to bring down the aircraft.
However, Netanyahu stressed that the investigation was still underway and that he was not making a final determination about the motive. Israeli officials have said the suspect appeared to have acted alone, although investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The United Arab Emirates has opened an investigation into the incident, including whether it was connected to terrorist activity, prior planning or outside direction. Investigators from several countries are involved in efforts to establish what happened and why.
The suspect has been identified by Israeli officials as an Omani national, although his name has not been publicly released. Oman has not publicly confirmed the details surrounding his identity or the allegations against him.
Questions have also been raised about how the suspect was able to serve as a co-pilot on a flight to Israel. Netanyahu said Israel has restrictions involving pilots from countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel, and said authorities would examine how the existing security procedures allowed him to operate on the route.
Flydubai has said the reasons behind the altercation remain unknown and that the matter is subject to a formal investigation. The airline also suspended its flights to Israel following the incident while authorities examine what happened.
The incident has renewed security concerns around flights to Israel, but investigators have yet to establish a final motive or determine whether anyone else was involved. Authorities are expected to provide further information as the investigation progresses.