TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cautioned against drawing early conclusions over an incident involving a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, as the airline suspended flights to and from Israel pending an investigation.
The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia after an apparent confrontation on the flight deck in which one pilot allegedly stabbed another and attempted to take control of the aircraft.
More than 170 people were aboard the flight, most of them Israelis.
Netanyahu said investigators would need to establish who was behind the incident and whether the attacker had accomplices.
“We’ll get to the root of this attacker, whether he had accomplices,” Netanyahu told Fox News host Sean Hannity.
Asked whether there were indications of Iranian involvement, Netanyahu said it was “too early to say”.
Israel Calls Incident A Terror Attack
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, described the incident as a “terror attack” but stopped short of linking it to Iran or any other organisation.
“We still cannot link it to a terror state or terror organisation, but for sure we know there was an intention to bring that plane down,” Danon told Fox News.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry later briefed its diplomats that the incident was an “attempted terrorist attack against Israelis, the United Arab Emirates, and the Abraham Accords”.
The Abraham Accords refer to agreements that normalised diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab states, including the UAE.
US President Donald Trump also cautioned against drawing conclusions, saying the circumstances remained unclear.
Flydubai Suspends Israel Flights
The airline urged all parties to avoid premature speculation as investigators establish what happened.
The flight reportedly descended sharply during the incident before passengers and crew intervened.
Several passengers rushed towards the cockpit and helped restrain the alleged attacker while others assisted in regaining control of the aircraft.
The plane eventually made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Pilot Injured In Attack
The pilot who was stabbed has been identified as Indian national Captain Smit Machchhar.
Machchhar reportedly opened the cockpit door after raising the alarm, allowing passengers to enter and help subdue the alleged attacker.
He was taken to hospital in Tabuk, north-western Saudi Arabia, where the aircraft landed.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Machchhar for his actions, describing him as a hero who helped protect the lives of those on board.
The alleged attacker was being questioned by Saudi authorities, according to Netanyahu. Israeli officials said the suspect was an Omani national, although authorities in Oman and the UAE had not publicly commented.
Netanyahu said he had spoken to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who agreed that Israeli officials would participate in questioning the suspect.
Passengers Praised For Intervention
Among those praised for their actions was passenger Yaniv Hayoun, who said he and other passengers forced their way into the cockpit after hearing screams and experiencing a sudden change in air pressure as the aircraft descended.
Hayoun said he restrained the attacker before taking hold of the aircraft controls.
Other crew members subsequently took over and helped stabilise the plane.
The incident remains under investigation, with authorities yet to publicly establish the motive or determine whether the alleged attacker acted alone.
