Omani Co-Pilot Suspected of Nationalist Motives in Dubai-Israel Flight Incident

Israeli authorities are awaiting the results of an investigation in Saudi Arabia into an incident aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Israel, where the co-pilot allegedly attempted to crash the plane. While certainty remains elusive, suspicion is growing that the act was motivated by nationalism. The Mossad is reportedly leading the investigation and liaising with Saudi authorities.

A Flydubai rescue flight landed in Saudi Arabia to repatriate the passengers, who have begun boarding the flight back to Israel. Upon their return, they will be questioned by security services, as all possibilities are still being considered. The incident prompted Transportation Minister Miri Regev to demand a halt to Flydubai flights to Israel, a demand that led to a sharp dispute with Shin Bet Director David Zini.

The drama began around 9:00 AM when Israel received a hijacking signal from the aircraft. Israeli Air Force fighter jets were scrambled, and urgent political and security discussions commenced. The plane briefly disappeared from tracking systems at 9:30 AM, intensifying fears of a hijacking, before reappearing on civilian tracking applications.

The aircraft eventually landed at a Saudi airport at 10:00 AM, after which Israeli airspace reopened. Flydubai initially confirmed a dispute between the pilots as the cause, but it has since emerged that the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the other pilot and attempted to seize control of the aircraft, with the intention of crashing it or hijacking it. A senior Israeli official described the event as a potential "9/11" scenario.

Fortunately, other pilots on board, traveling as passengers as part of a routine exercise, reportedly intervened, subdued the co-pilot, and regained control of the plane, preventing a catastrophic outcome. A passenger's clothing was reportedly stained with blood during the incident. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was en route to the south, returned for an additional security briefing.