Act of violence in the cockpit of a Flydubai plane: investigations initiated

After the violence in the cockpit of a Flydubai plane, the airline announced its own investigation into the incident. “It is important that we enable this process to establish the facts,” said company boss Ghaith Al Ghaith. The plane was on its way from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday when the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain in the cockpit. The plane had to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

The authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also launched an investigation. According to the state news agency WAM, they are supposed to clarify the circumstances and motives of the crime. It should also be checked whether the incident was related to terrorist activities, was planned or was controlled by others. Saudi Arabian authorities arrested the co-pilot after landing in Tabuk and then brought him to the Emirates.

Israeli authorities are expected to take part in the investigation. An Israeli government official told Reuters they were working with Emirati authorities to investigate the suspect's circumstances, motives and background. According to a source familiar with the investigation, Israeli officials are expected to question the co-pilot in the Emirates. Details were not known.

According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the co-pilot was a citizen of Oman. He was radically Islamist indoctrinated and was clearly suicidal. Israel is checking whether the co-pilot acted on behalf of others, Netanyahu said. Anyone who was involved will pay a “high price”. The co-pilot's identity is not publicly known beyond his nationality. It is also unclear how the co-pilot was assigned to the flight. Israel does not have official diplomatic relations with Oman, and according to Netanyahu, pilots from such countries are not allowed to fly to Israel.