Netanyahu: Dubai-Tel Aviv Flight Attacker Was "Radicalised" as UAE Opens Terror Probe

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that preliminary investigations indicate the man who stabbed a pilot and attempted to seize control of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv had been exposed to "Islamist radical indoctrination." In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu described the attacker as an Omani national and suggested it was "very likely" that his intention was to bring the aircraft down.

The incident occurred on Wednesday aboard Flight FZ1073, which was carrying more than 170 people. Approximately two hours into the journey, the plane suddenly plunged more than 17,000 feet (5,200 metres), a dramatic descent captured by flight tracking data. The aircraft briefly entered Jordanian airspace before turning back toward Saudi Arabia, where it eventually made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in the northwest of the kingdom.

Netanyahu told Fox News that once the attacker had been overpowered and restrained by passengers and crew, he began calling out to the aircrew, saying "kill me, kill me." The Israeli prime minister said this demonstrated the attacker was suicidal. He added that when combined with the Islamist tendencies and radicalisation found in the man's background, the evidence provides strong indications about the nature of the attack, though he cautioned that he was not making final conclusions.

When asked earlier in the same interview whether there were indications of Iranian involvement, Netanyahu replied that it was "too early to say." The Israeli leader's comments came as the United Arab Emirates announced it had launched its own investigation into the incident. The UAE state news agency reported that authorities were working to determine "whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity or purpose."

The co-pilot of the flight is currently being questioned in Saudi Arabia, where the plane made its emergency landing. However, UAE officials have asserted that they hold jurisdiction over the case because the aircraft is registered in the UAE and operates under its flag. The attacker was arrested in Saudi Arabia and is expected to be transferred to the UAE, according to Netanyahu.

The pilot who was stabbed, Indian national Captain Smit Machchhar, has been widely praised for his courage. Both Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described him as a "hero." India's ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, visited Captain Machchhar in hospital on Thursday. The Indian Mission confirmed on social media that the pilot was "in good health and recovering well."

Preliminary findings from a separate Israeli investigation, led by the intelligence agency Mossad, suggest that the alleged attacker intended to crash the plane. An Israeli security source told BBC Arabic that investigators interviewed passengers after they arrived in Tel Aviv to establish what had occurred on board. The information gathered from witnesses has contributed to the emerging understanding of the attacker's motives and methods.

Flight FZ1073 had taken off from Dubai International Airport at 03:05 GMT (07:05 local time) en route to Ben Gurion Airport. Two hours later, the 17,000-foot drop in altitude was recorded on the plane tracking website Flightradar24. Minutes afterward, the aircraft signalled an emergency code. At approximately 05:40, after briefly entering Jordanian airspace, the plane looped back into Saudi Arabia and began a manual descent, ultimately landing safely at Tabuk Airport.

Passengers on board have described the terrifying moments when the aircraft went into its steep dive. One passenger, Almog Itali, said it felt like a "rollercoaster" as the plane fell 17,000 feet in less than two minutes. The rapid loss of altitude, combined with the chaos of the attack, created a situation that could have ended in catastrophe had passengers and crew not acted decisively to subdue the attacker and retake control of the aircraft.

In the aftermath of the incident, Flydubai has suspended flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv while it conducts its own investigation. Israel's Transportation Ministry said the suspension aligns with a directive from Prime Minister Netanyahu. The grounding of the route has left many travellers stranded, prompting Israeli airlines including El Al, Israir and Arkia to announce plans to operate rescue flights from Dubai starting on Friday to bring back affected passengers.

The Transportation Ministry also revealed that it had sent an urgent request to Etihad Airlines to increase the number of flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv, demonstrating the strain on air links between the UAE and Israel following the suspension. The diplomatic and logistical response highlights the seriousness with which both countries are treating the incident and the need to maintain connectivity despite the security concerns raised by the attack.

The incident raises significant questions about aviation security in the region, particularly on routes connecting the Gulf states with Israel. The fact that an attacker was able to stab a pilot and attempt to seize control of a commercial aircraft mid-flight suggests potential gaps in security protocols, whether on the ground before departure or in the cabin during the flight. Investigators will likely examine how the attacker managed to carry out the assault and what measures might prevent similar incidents in the future.

The geopolitical implications are also considerable. The involvement of an Omani national in an attack on a flight bound for Israel comes amid a complex regional landscape, with tensions running high between Israel and Iran, and ongoing efforts to normalise relations between Israel and Arab states. Netanyahu's refusal to rule out or confirm Iranian involvement reflects the sensitivity of the situation and the potential for the incident to escalate broader regional tensions if a state actor were found to be connected.

As the investigations continue in multiple jurisdictions — the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel — authorities are working to piece together the attacker's background, motivations, and any possible connections to extremist networks. The questioning of the co-pilot in Saudi Arabia and the expected transfer of the attacker to UAE custody are key steps in a process that will determine whether the incident was an isolated act or part of a larger terrorist plot. For now, the focus remains on gathering evidence and ensuring the safety of passengers and crew on one of the region's most sensitive air routes.