Tel Aviv – Israeli officials will join Emirati investigators in questioning the co‑pilot detained in the United Arab Emirates after the dramatic incident on flydubai Flight FZ1073. The flight, bound for Tel Aviv from Dubai, was forced to land in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the co‑pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to plunge the aircraft 16,600 feet in just half a minute.
Incident overview
More than 170 passengers and crew members subdued the co‑pilot, preventing a potential disaster. A reserve flydubai pilot crew on board took control and safely landed the aircraft in Tabuk. Saudi authorities detained the suspect before transferring him to the UAE on Thursday.
Israeli involvement
An Israeli government spokesperson confirmed that Israeli investigators will take part in the UAE‑led inquiry, working alongside Emirati officials to determine the motives and background of the suspect. The spokesperson declined to name the specific Israeli agency that will participate.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking in a video statement, warned that anyone behind the plot will face a “heavy price.” He identified the co‑pilot as an Omani national who, according to Israeli intelligence, had undergone radical Islamist indoctrination and appeared suicidal, though a definitive motive has not yet been established.
International context
The incident comes as Israel prepares for a national election on October 27, the first since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. Security remains a central theme in the campaign, and the episode has heightened public concern.
Relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates have deepened since the 2020 Abraham Accords, with the UAE recently strengthening ties after being targeted by Iranian‑backed forces earlier this year. The UAE foreign ministry has not yet commented on the joint investigation.
Reactions from airline and other officials
flydubai Chief Executive Ghaith Al Ghaith described the event as a “safety incident” and emphasized the airline’s cooperation with authorities. He called for a thorough process to establish the facts, noting the many unanswered questions surrounding the flight.
The captain, identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar, was praised by both Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his actions in averting catastrophe.
What comes next
UAE investigators, with Israeli participation, will continue to examine whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity, prior planning, or external direction. Omani authorities have not released a comment.
As the investigation proceeds, Israeli officials stress the importance of uncovering the full story to protect the safety of future flights and to reassure the public ahead of the upcoming election.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
