Israeli investigators are expected to question the Omani co-pilot accused of attacking the captain and attempting to crash a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, as part of a UAE-led investigation into the incident, according to a source briefed on the probe. The co-pilot was transferred from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday after being detained in the kingdom following the emergency landing of flydubai flight FZ1073 at Tabuk. The source cited by Reuters claimed that Israeli officials were expected to question him in the UAE, although it was not immediately clear which Israeli agency would take part. An Israeli government official told Reuters that Israeli investigators would participate in the UAE-led investigation alongside Emirati authorities to establish what happened and examine the suspect's motives and background. The UAE foreign ministry did not immediately comment on whether Israeli officials would directly question the co-pilot.
UAE probe examines motive and possible planning
The UAE state news agency reported on Thursday that Emirati authorities had opened an investigation to establish the circumstances and motives behind the incident and determine “whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity or purpose, or involved prior planning or direction”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that Israel was also investigating whether the co-pilot had acted under the direction of another party. In a video statement released by his office, Netanyahu said whoever was involved would pay a “heavy price”. Netanyahu had said on Thursday that the co-pilot, whom he identified as an Omani national, had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination” and was suicidal. However, the motive for the attack has not yet been established. The co-pilot's identity has not been publicly disclosed beyond his nationality. Omani authorities have not commented on the incident.
Flight plunged more than 16,000 feet
The incident occurred on Wednesday aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 people on board, mostly Israelis. The co-pilot allegedly stabbed Indian captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit during the flight. Passengers and crew then subdued the attacker after Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door. A reserve flydubai pilot crew travelling on the aircraft landed the plane at Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where the co-pilot was detained by Saudi authorities. Machchhar was also transferred to the UAE and is recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital. According to data from flight tracker Flightradar24, the aircraft plunged about 16,625 feet in just over 30 seconds while flying over Saudi Arabia. Machchhar has been hailed as a hero by Netanyahu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his actions during the incident. In a video call with PM Modi, Machchhar described how he struggled to recover after being attacked. “I had so many wounds. I had fallen down,” Machchhar said from his hospital bed. “I was fighting for my life. At one point, I realised that if I didn’t get up … then passengers would lose their lives.”
Israeli, UAE authorities investigate attack
Most of the passengers on the flight were Israeli nationals. The incident led to the suspension of commercial flights between the UAE and Israel, with Israel preparing repatriation flights for passengers stranded in the UAE. The Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv listed Arkia and Israir flights from Dubai for late Friday and early Saturday, while El Al was expected to operate a flight from Dubai to Israel on Sunday, AP reported. The incident has also raised questions over the circumstances in which the Omani national came to be assigned to a flight to Tel Aviv. Israel does not have official diplomatic relations with Oman, and Netanyahu has said pilots from countries without such relations were not permitted to operate flights to Israel. Israeli investigators are participating in the UAE-led probe, according to the Israeli government official cited by Reuters. The investigation is expected to examine the suspect's background, the circumstances of the attack and whether he acted alone or under direction.
