Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that it is too early to determine exactly who was behind the alleged attempt to crash an Israel-bound Flydubai flight by stabbing a pilot. Meanwhile, Israel’s UN envoy described the incident as a “terrorist attack” but did not attribute responsibility to any specific individual, state, or organization.
In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday night, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, said, “We have no doubt that this was a terrorist attack by an extremist individual.” However, he noted that no link to any “terrorist state or terrorist organization” has been found so far. He confirmed that the intention was indeed to bring down the aircraft.
Flydubai announced that all flights to and from Israel would be suspended pending the investigation. The airline urged everyone to refrain from making “premature assumptions” while authorities gather information.
The incident occurred on Flydubai flight 1073, en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv. There were over 170 passengers on board, the majority of whom were Israeli. Allegedly, one pilot stabbed the other in mid-air in an attempt to seize control of the aircraft.
Several passengers then rushed to the cockpit and subdued the alleged attacker. At that moment, the plane had begun a rapid descent. Passengers and crew eventually regained control and stabilized the aircraft, which subsequently made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Netanyahu stated that the investigation would reveal who was behind the incident. Responding to a question from Fox News host Sean Hannity, he added that authorities would also investigate whether the attacker had any accomplices. When asked if there were any indications of Iranian involvement, Netanyahu said, “It is too early to say.”
Netanyahu stated that Saudi authorities are interrogating the alleged attacker. He expects the individual to be transferred to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) later; the flight had originated from the UAE. Earlier, Netanyahu mentioned that he had spoken with the UAE President, who agreed to allow Israel to participate in the interrogation of the suspect.
Israeli officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters that the alleged attacker is an Omani national. However, there has been no comment on the matter from Oman or the UAE.
Later, Israel’s Foreign Ministry informed its diplomats worldwide that the incident constituted an “attempted terrorist attack” targeting Israeli citizens, the UAE, and the “Abraham Accords”—the 2020 agreement normalizing relations between the two nations.
However, on Wednesday evening, US President Donald Trump remarked that the situation remained unclear. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office after a conversation with Netanyahu, he noted that while the co-pilot might have been a terrorist, he could also have been someone suffering from other issues; the exact nature of the incident was not yet clear.
On Wednesday, world leaders, including Netanyahu, praised the bravery of the passengers and crew aboard the Flydubai flight.
In a video released by the Prime Minister’s Office, a passenger named Yaniv Hayun was seen speaking with Netanyahu. Hayun, a plumber by trade, recounted the details of the events inside the aircraft.
Hayun said that he and other passengers heard shouting and felt a change in cabin pressure. The plane then began to descend rapidly. They forced their way into the cockpit and found the attacker positioned in front of the control panel.
During his meeting with Netanyahu, Hayun described how he grabbed the attacker by the throat and dragged him out of the cockpit. While others were attempting to restrain the attacker, he took control of the aircraft and pulled it upwards, following a technique he had seen on television. Other crew members subsequently took over control of the plane.
The pilot, who sustained stab wounds, is Captain Smit Machhar, an Indian national. During the incident, he sent an emergency signal and unlocked the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and subdue the attacker.
In a post on the social media platform X on Thursday morning, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Machhar as a “hero.” Modi stated that despite being critically injured, he demonstrated extraordinary courage and resolve in saving the lives of others. Thanks to his bravery, the lives of hundreds of people were saved, and a major disaster was averted.
Machhar, an Indian national, is a resident of Mumbai. He is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Tabuk, a city in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The aircraft had made a safe emergency landing in Tabuk.
