Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that the Omani copilot who allegedly stabbed the captain of a Flydubai flight was attempting to crash the aircraft. The incident occurred on a flight from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv, carrying 174 people.
Speaking on CNN's "The Brief," Netanyahu lauded the Indian pilot for showing "incredible heroism" after being stabbed, managing to "somehow unlock the door" to the cockpit. The prime minister detailed how an Israeli passenger then intervened, "burst in," pushed the attacker back, and took control of the plane as it was losing altitude.
"And then another Israeli, and I think another air crew member, they got control over the attacker, and then the reserve pilots who were in the passenger area came in, stabilized the airplane," Netanyahu told host Jim Sciutto. The aircraft had begun descending rapidly before control was regained.
Netanyahu drew a parallel to the September 11, 2001 attacks, saying, "the amazing heroism here of the Indian pilot, the Israeli passenger, and his colleagues, and those pilots managed to prevent a 9-11 disaster because that's what it looks like was happening." The flight was diverted and landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday that its judicial authorities are investigating the incident, including "any possible connection" to terrorist activity. Netanyahu noted the copilot is being interrogated in Saudi Arabia and will be transferred to the UAE "very soon." He also said he spoke with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who allowed Israel to participate in the interrogation.
"So, we'll find out very soon if Iran had anything to do with it. But I can't say that in advance of the conclusion of the interrogation," Netanyahu said. The incident comes amid heightened security concerns in the region, with tensions with Iran and the Gaza war ongoing. The Israeli leader's comments also follow his recent confrontational UN address, where he faced walkouts over his policies.
This incident has raised questions about aviation security and the vetting of flight crews, especially on routes between the Gulf and Israel. The quick response of the crew and passengers prevented what could have been a catastrophic event, and authorities are now working to determine the motive behind the attack.
