Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel intends to get to the “root” of the co-pilot who tried to bring down an Israel-bound flydubai flight — and that Israeli officials may join the investigation into the dramatic mid-air incident.
Speaking to Fox News, Mr Netanyahu stressed that it remained too soon to determine who was behind the foiled attempt to crash the flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
“It’s too early to say, the attacking pilot is .. now being investigated in Saudi Arabia. I think he’ll be taken to the Emirates, where he comes from, or at least where he left, where he flew off from, and we’ll be following and possibly also participating in this investigation,” Mr Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News.
He made the remarks after being asked whether there were any signs of Iranian involvement.
Netanyahu says too early to tell who is behind plane attack
Israeli officials said the aircraft’s passengers reached Israel safely after travellers and crew intervened to stop a co-pilot’s alleged attempt to crash the jet. During the struggle, officials said, the co-pilot stabbed the pilot and the plane plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.
According to Israeli officials, passengers and crew forced their way into the cockpit, restrained the co-pilot, and helped a second pair of flydubai pilots who were on board take control and land safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Flydubai earlier said the reasons behind the incident were still unknown and urged against “premature speculation.”
Smit Machchhar was hailed a ‘hero’
Passenger hailed ‘hero’ for averting Israel-bound plane disaster
Israel’s leadership and India’s prime minister have praised Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, describing him as a hero after he was stabbed by a colleague during the incident and still helped save those on board.
A spokesperson for Mr Netanyahu told Reuters that Mr Machchhar, covered in blood on the floor, managed to press the release that opened the cockpit door.
That action, the spokesperson said, enabled passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot and allowed the second pair of flydubai pilots on board to land the aircraft in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Passengers recount what happened on plane
“He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals,” Mr Netanyahu said in a post on social media.
“All passengers are out of harm’s way,” he had earlier said in a video statement released by his office.
In a post on X early this morning, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded Mr Machchhar, calling him a “hero”.
“In the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, he showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others. His valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy,” Mr Modi said.
Media and passengers gather at Ben Guiron Airport in Tel Aviv after the flight was diverted to Saudi Arabia
Indian authorities in Saudi Arabia said Mr Machchhar is receiving necessary medical attention at a hospital in the northwestern city of Tabuk, and that officials are in contact with his family and Saudi authorities to provide all possible assistance.
The Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia said on X that he is stable.
Mr Machchhar, who is from India’s financial capital Mumbai, underwent surgery following the incident, the Hindustan Times reported.
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Mr Machchhar’s LinkedIn profile says he spent more than 11 years working for India’s SpiceJet airline before moving to flydubai.
What triggered the altercation between the pilots has not been established.
In its statement, flydubai said the underlying reasons for the event were still unknown and again cautioned against “premature speculation.” The airline also suspended flights to and from Israel while the investigation continues.
Mr Netanyahu called the episode “a highly severe security incident” and said Saudi authorities would interrogate the co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073, which had been travelling from the United Arab Emirates to Israel.
