Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has alleged that the Omani co-pilot who assaulted his captain during a flight from Dubai to Israel had previously undergone radical Islamist indoctrination. The incident, which occurred mid-flight, appeared to be a deliberate attempt to crash the aircraft, according to Israeli officials.
The flight, carrying more than 170 people, faced a life-threatening situation when the captain, identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar, was attacked and injured. Passengers recounted hearing screams and feeling a change in cabin pressure as the plane suddenly lost altitude. A group of Israeli passengers broke into the cockpit to intervene, successfully restraining the co-pilot and assisting a reserve crew in stabilizing the aircraft for an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Netanyahu stated in an interview with Fox News that gathering personal information on the assailant suggests clear indicators of radicalization. He noted that while nothing is ruled out, evidence points toward suicidal motives. The Prime Minister emphasized that final conclusions are pending, though he expressed that the co-pilot’s extremist background serves as a significant clue regarding his intent to bring down the plane. Nothing is ruled out for now,” they told the Associated Press. According to netanyahu, The co-pilot was probably suicidal, citing preliminary “indications”. “It looks very likely that he was going to down the plane … The Islamist tendencies, that radicalisation that are found in his background, I think that’s a pretty good clue,” he said, emphasising that final conclusions had yet to be made.
Currently, the unnamed co-pilot is undergoing interrogation by Saudi security services in Tabuk. Saudi investigators are coordinating with authorities from the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Oman, and Israel to establish a definitive motive. A regional official involved in the inquiry stated that all possibilities, ranging from terrorism to potential mental health crises, remain under active investigation. The co-pilot, whose identity is still not known, was being interrogated by Saudi security services, which arrested him on the plane’s arrival in Tabuk, in the north-west of the country.
Initial assessments from two Israeli security officials suggest the attacker likely acted alone, with no current evidence linking him to Iranian state support. This follows statements from Netanyahu earlier in the week where he noted it was premature to confirm any external state sponsorship. Despite the gravity of the situation, the Israeli military reported no specific warnings of an imminent threat prior to the flight. According to netanyahu had previously, It was “too early to say” if there was any state backing – namely Iranian – of the attack. The attack came just days after Netanyahu warned of an unspecified security threat to Israel that could come during its October election. According to the Israeli military had, Before the incident it had no specific intelligence of an imminent threat and the opposition leader Yair Lapid said that a security briefing on Tuesday night included no mention of a related threat.
In response to the incident, Flydubai has suspended all operations to and from Israel until the investigation concludes. The UAE government confirmed on Thursday that it is conducting its own parallel probe to determine if the assailant maintained ties to terrorist organizations. Meanwhile, United States President-elect Donald Trump described the event as a potential act of terrorism or a deeply troubled individual’s outburst.
The bravery of the passengers and crew has received international recognition. Israeli authorities announced that four passengers who took part in subduing the co-pilot would receive awards for their heroism. Among them, Yaniv Hayoun, a plumber, described to Netanyahu how he managed to put the attacker in a chokehold and pull him away from the instrument panel.
Captain Smit Machchhar has been widely praised for his role in alerting the ground and opening the cockpit door, allowing the intervention to occur. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly hailed Machchhar as a hero, commending his immense courage under grave danger. According to the Indian embassy in the UAE, the captain is currently receiving medical treatment in a Saudi hospital and is in good health, with the Indian ambassador having met with him and his family to offer support.
