Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel will thoroughly investigate the co-pilot involved in a foiled attempt to crash a Flydubai flight bound for Israel, indicating potential involvement in the inquiry.
"We'll get to the root of this attacker, whether he had accomplices, whether Iran was behind it. I think we'll find out very soon," Netanyahu remarked in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity. Israeli officials confirmed that the co-pilot's motive on flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv is currently under investigation.
Netanyahu addressed speculation regarding potential Iranian involvement, stating, "It's too early to say, the attacking pilot is... now being investigated in Saudi Arabia. I think he'll be taken to the Emirates, where he comes from, or at least where he left, where he flew off from, and we'll be following and possibly also participating in this investigation."
Passengers aboard the Flydubai flight safely reached Israel on Wednesday. The incident occurred when the co-pilot reportedly stabbed the pilot and initiated a rapid descent of the aircraft, dropping nearly 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds. Passengers and crew members intervened, overpowering the co-pilot and allowing a separate pair of Flydubai pilots on board to land the jet safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Flydubai has cautioned against premature speculation regarding the underlying reasons for the event, stating that they remain unknown.
