UAE and Israel investigate motive of co-pilot who tried to shoot down plane en route to Tel Aviv

The United Arab Emirates and Israel are investigating the motivation of the co-pilot who tried to shoot down a plane on its way to Tel Aviv. The commander who prevented the tragedy was transferred to a hospital in Abu Dhabi.

One day after the flight that almost ended in tragedy, four of the passengers were received this Thursday (1st) by Benjamin Netanyahu, in the prime minister's office, in Jerusalem. They are part of the group that managed to enter the cabin, immobilize the co-pilot and help the stabbed commander. Among them is dentist Shota Musaev. It was he who helped the injured commander.

"He was all cut up. His hands, his head. There were very deep wounds. I checked his pulse all the time. He was without oxygen, so I put oxygen on him", he says.

Netanyahu said the group will light one of the torches on Israel's next Independence Day. The tribute, however, takes place in the middle of the election campaign. Israel votes on October 27th. Opposition leaders accuse Netanyahu and his allies of politically exploiting the episode.

Israelis welcome passengers who faced the co-pilot who wanted to shoot down the 737 as heroes — Photo: Jornal Nacional/ Reproduction

The stabbed commander, Smit Machchhar, was transferred this Thursday (1st) to a hospital in Abu Dhabi, capital of the Emirates. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his family:

“What Smit did is a matter of pride for all Indians.”

The investigation now focuses on the co-pilot's motivation. Netanyahu said that he had undergone a process of Islamist radicalization and that Israel is investigating a possible connection with Iran. Israel wants his extradition.

According to the “Times of Israel”, an Israeli official claims that the suspect wrote on social media about killing Jews. The same source emphasizes that the motivation has not yet been definitively established.

The United Arab Emirates has opened a formal investigation into whether the attack was planned and whether it had a terrorist motive. FlyDubai says the causes remain unknown and asks to avoid hasty conclusions.