Journalist Questions Oman Pilot's Assignment on Flight to Tel Aviv

Following an incident where a co-pilot from Oman allegedly attempted to hijack a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, Israeli journalist Elior Levy has raised serious questions about the decision to assign him to the flight. Levy, who covers Palestinian affairs for the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, expressed concern that Israeli authorities were unaware of the co-pilot's identity and potential threat. He described the situation as a "horrific failure" if such assignments have occurred previously without detection.

Levy specifically questioned how Flydubai would assign a pilot from Oman, a country without diplomatic ties to Israel, to fly a plane full of Israelis, especially during a period of heightened regional tension. He pondered if Israeli authorities were aware of the flight crew's identities beforehand, suggesting that the potential for the co-pilot to attempt to crash the plane, possibly targeting landmarks like the Azrieli towers in Tel Aviv, was not adequately addressed.

The incident involved Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, carrying over 150 Israelis. Reports indicate the Omani co-pilot stabbed the captain during the flight. Israeli officials are increasingly treating the event as an act of terrorism rather than a psychological issue. Crew members and passengers reportedly intervened, gaining control of the co-pilot.

An Israeli official stated that a "very heavy disaster was averted." During the event, a distress code indicating unlawful interference was activated, and communication with the aircraft was lost. Israeli fighter jets were scrambled, and emergency consultations were held. Flight tracking data showed the plane rapidly losing altitude before it eventually landed in Saudi Arabia. Israeli forces reportedly arrived on the scene, and the Israeli passengers were debriefed before their return to Israel.