Investigators are examining claims that the Omani co-pilot accused of stabbing the captain and trying to crash a flydubai flight to Israel had undergone Islamist radicalisation.
The co-pilot, who has not been named, was arrested in Saudi Arabia after off-duty pilots took control of Flight FZ1073 and landed it at Tabuk. Passengers had stormed the cockpit and subdued him, averting what officials said could have been a disaster involving 174 passengers and crew.
Benjamin Netanyahu said personal material found during the investigation pointed to “Islamist radical indoctrination”. Israeli officials have also alleged that the co-pilot had discussed killing Jews on social media and displayed a jihadist ideology online.
However, the claims about his motive have not been formally established. Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, described the incident as a “jihadist terrorist attack”, while investigators have yet to make a definitive statement about the co-pilot’s motivations, possible associates or links to another country.
Netanyahu said the co-pilot appeared suicidal after passengers restrained him using the cord from earphones in the cockpit. “And then he’s lying there now, this attacker, and he calls out to the aircrew: ‘kill me, kill me’,” he said.
The prime minister added that it appeared the co-pilot had intended to bring down the aircraft, but stressed that he was not drawing final conclusions.
Passengers praised for stopping the attack
The captain, Smit Machchhar, was stabbed during the incident but managed to open the cockpit door despite his injuries. Passengers then entered and fought with the co-pilot for at least 20 minutes.
Tali Niss alerted those on board after realising there was a serious problem in the cockpit. Yaniv Hayoun, Tzvika Manes and Asaf Rajuan confronted and restrained the co-pilot, while Dr Shota Musayev treated the injured captain.
The five passengers are due to receive presidential awards for heroism. Netanyahu said Hayoun, a plumber, told him that watching aircraft disaster documentaries had helped him understand how to bring the plane out of its dive.
Accounts of what the co-pilot said during the episode have varied. One passenger reportedly told media in Tel Aviv that he heard the words “Allahu Akbar” as the aircraft descended, but other witnesses did not make the same claim.
When asked whether the co-pilot had shouted the phrase before attempting to crash the plane, Netanyahu replied: “No, no, none of that.”
Trump raises unsubstantiated Iran claim
Donald Trump has suggested, without providing evidence, that the co-pilot may have links to Iran. Asked whether he had been briefed about a connection to Tehran, the US president said: “I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes, but we’re working on it right now.”
Trump did not explain the basis for the suggestion. Asked whether the US would retaliate against Iran if it were found to be involved, he said: “Oh they’ll be hit, very hard, don’t worry.”
The investigation is expected to be led by the United Arab Emirates because the flight originated in Dubai and was operating under the UAE flag. The UAE prosecutor-general has begun proceedings, with Saudi authorities working alongside officials from Israel, the US and Oman.
Saudi Arabia has handed the suspect over to the UAE. The injured captain was taken to hospital after the aircraft landed.
The incident has also prompted questions over how the Omani co-pilot was permitted to fly to Israel, given that Oman has no diplomatic relations with the country. Israel’s transport minister, Miri Regev, suspended flydubai operations to Israel and ordered an inquiry into possible breaches of aviation agreements.
A pilot who said he knew the co-pilot described him as a religious extremist, claiming that the Omani national prayed excessively and refused to shake hands with women. The co-pilot had joined flydubai eight months earlier, the colleague said.
