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Netanyahu Links Flydubai Attack to Islamist Radicalization
Confirmed
In Short: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says the co-pilot who attacked an Indian captain on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight had undergone 'Islamist radical indoctrination'.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that the co-pilot who attacked an Indian captain on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight had undergone 'Islamist radical indoctrination,' based on personal information gathered by Israeli investigators.
Netanyahu told Fox News that the attacker, an Omani national, was likely planning to crash the plane. He was subdued by passengers and crew members and the plane safely landed at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
The Israeli PM also said that the attacker was calling out 'kill me, kill me' after being tied up, indicating his suicidal intentions.
Both Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who was stabbed, as a hero. Machchhar's wounds were treated by a dentist on the flight, while other passengers subdued the attacker.
Netanyahu acknowledged that the copilot slipped through a loophole in a rule that states pilots flying to Israel can’t be from countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel.
The Israeli government is tightening security checks on pilots flying into the country, including those working for foreign airlines, according to Netanyahu spokesman Doron Spielman.
Netanyahu said there was clear evidence that Iran and its proxies were targeting Israel and Israelis abroad but added, “whether or not this was carried out as part of that plan, that we don’t know yet.”
In a separate video, Netanyahu praised the passengers who intervened and prevented the copilot’s apparent attempt to crash the plane, saying they insisted the attacker speak in English so they could understand his intentions.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir demanded Israel use all means available to extradite the attacker and prosecute him in Israel.
Flydubai has suspended flights to and from Israel while the incident is investigated.
What this adds
The attacker's exact background remains unclear, but Netanyahu said he 'obviously hated Israelis.
What's confirmed
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that the co-pilot who attacked an Indian captain on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight had undergone 'Islamist radical indoctrination,' based on personal information gathered by Israeli investigators.
- Netanyahu told Fox News that the attacker, an Omani national, was likely planning to crash the plane. He was subdued by passengers and crew members and the plane safely landed at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
- The Israeli PM also said that the attacker was calling out 'kill me, kill me' after being tied up, indicating his suicidal intentions.
- Both Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who was stabbed, as a hero. Machchhar's wounds were treated by a dentist on the flight, while other passengers subdued the attacker.
- Netanyahu acknowledged that the copilot slipped through a loophole in a rule that states pilots flying to Israel can’t be from countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel.
- The Israeli government is tightening security checks on pilots flying into the country, including those working for foreign airlines, according to Netanyahu spokesman Doron Spielman.
- In a separate video, Netanyahu praised the passengers who intervened and prevented the copilot’s apparent attempt to crash the plane, saying they insisted the attacker speak in English so they could understand his intentions.
- National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir demanded Israel use all means available to extradite the attacker and prosecute him in Israel.
- Flydubai has suspended flights to and from Israel while the incident is investigated.
What's still developing
- Israel's Transportation Ministry said the suspension aligns with Netanyahu's directive.
- The Flydubai plane plunged more than 17,000ft (5,200m) two hours into its journey on Wednesday, before passengers and crew overpowered the attacker and retook control to land safely.
- Flydubai passenger describes hugging his children as plane nosedived during attack Who is the 'hero' Indian pilot who was stabbed on Israel-bound flight?
- Asked by Fox News host Sean Hannity late Wednesday whether the incident was part of a broader terror plot, Netanyahu said it was too early to say.
- While Netanyahu did not elaborate, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel that the copilot discussed killing Jews on social media.
- Yaniv Hayun, one of the Israelis who overpowered the Omani copilot, told Netanyahu that the attacker called out, “Kill me,” when he had been bound and immobilized and he knew his attempt had failed.
- According to Netanyahu, the copilot was held by Saudi Arabia, which will “I assume, very quickly” transfer him to the UAE for interrogation.
- “My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery. Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster,” Netanyahu said in a post on X.
- He said that he was told by Netanyahu and others about how a plumber on board the aircraft helped level the aircraft after it began a nosedive during the incident.