On board a Flydubai plane operating the Dubai–Tel Aviv route, a pilot of Indian origin was seriously stabbed. The attacker was subdued by passengers and crew during the incident.
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Afterwards, the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia. Authorities are investigating the motive of the event and whether it is linked to terrorism.
The incident occurred on Wednesday on flight FZ1073, which was carrying 174 people from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. About two hours after takeoff, the plane lost approximately 17,000 feet of altitude, then sent emergency signals and a hijacking alarm.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir announced that he will seek the suspect’s extradition to Israel.
In a statement regarding the attempt against the Flydubai flight, Ben Gvir said: “I will ask the Cabinet for the extradition to Israel of the terrorist pilot who tried to kill hundreds of innocent Israelis. Here he will experience my prison policy up close: hell awaits him on earth.”
According to The Times of Israel, the Israeli minister said he will ask the Justice Ministry and relevant diplomatic officials to “use all available means” to extradite the suspect and bring him to justice in Israel.
“Anyone who planned to bring down an airplane and kill 180 Israelis must be extradited to Israel and pay the ultimate price here,” the minister added.
The suspect is now being held in Saudi Arabia, where the plane landed. Saudi Arabia and Oman, the suspect’s country of origin, do not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, which could complicate a direct extradition.
Israel, meanwhile, has diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates, but no bilateral extradition agreement exists between them.
Israeli media sources report that the suspect is expected to be transferred to the United Arab Emirates.
An official quoted by Israeli media said: “We cannot say for certain until the investigation is complete, but it appears he was a suicide attacker who likely tried to bring down the plane.”
At the same time, Israel has launched an internal investigation and is assessing changes to security procedures.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General of the United Arab Emirates, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, has ordered the formation of an investigative committee into the incident involving Flydubai flight FZ1073, state news agency WAM reported.
During an interview with Fox News, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave further details about the investigation.
“The attacker is under investigation. Here is what we know: he was radicalized by Islam,” Netanyahu said.
He linked that statement to words that, according to him, the suspect from Oman uttered during the incident.
Netanyahu said the suspect told crew members: “Kill me.” The Israeli prime minister stressed that this may indicate he planned to sacrifice himself and cause the plane to crash.
He also said there are indications that Iran may try to strike Israeli targets, especially during the election period.
During the Fox News interview, Netanyahu praised the “extraordinary courage” of the passengers on the Flydubai flight, who helped neutralize the attacker.
“Think about this,” Netanyahu said. “If next time you find yourself on a hijacked flight, make sure you have an Israeli sitting next to you.”
At the end of the interview, Netanyahu linked the event to “hatred” and argued that, in his view, it was rooted in antisemitism, while some people had become victims of what he called “propaganda” that demonizes Israel.
“I do not know the exact background of this person, the attacker, but he clearly hated Israelis because he was ready to kill about 170 of them on this plane, killing himself as well,” Netanyahu said, adding that “this is fanaticism and hatred of an incalculable level.”
