Netanyahu says flydubai co-pilot underwent Islamist radicalisation, UAE probes terror link

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News on Thursday that the flydubai co-pilot who attacked the plane's captain and allegedly tried to crash the aircraft had undergone "Islamist radical indoctrination." He gave no further details, saying only that the man was being interrogated.

According to Netanyahu, the attacker shouted "kill me, kill me" at the crew, suggesting suicidal intent. Separately, the UAE's chief prosecutor announced Thursday that an investigation had been opened, which does not rule out "terrorist activity or intent."

How events unfolded

During Wednesday's incident, passengers and crew managed to regain control of the aircraft before it made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Most passengers aboard were Israeli, and they later received a hero's welcome upon returning home. Netanyahu credited the captain, Indian national Smit Machchhar, along with passengers, with preventing disaster by overpowering the attacker.

Saudi Arabia's interior ministry confirmed the co-pilot was transferred from the kingdom to the UAE on Thursday morning accompanied by an Emirati security team, with initial findings indicating he had attacked the captain. The aircraft lost about 17,000 feet of altitude within a minute, according to Flightradar24 data.

Netanyahu said the co-pilot was an Omani national, and Israel would examine how he came to work on a flight to a country with which Oman has no diplomatic relations. He said Israel would join the investigation, though the UAE would lead it.

Israeli far-right officials, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Defence Minister Israel Katz, described the incident as a "jihadist" terror attack. Flydubai has suspended flights to Israel during the investigation. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he would present heroism awards to five Israelis who helped subdue the attacker. US President Donald Trump, after speaking with Netanyahu, said the co-pilot may have been "a terrorist or perhaps a whack job."