Netanyahu Cancels Visit, Orders Urgent Security Meeting After Flydubai Incident

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a planned visit to the Southern Military Command headquarters on Wednesday, September 30, following an incident aboard a Flydubai flight en route to Israel. The meeting was to have included IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir and Defense Minister Israel Katz. Netanyahu, Zamir, and Katz are scheduled to hold a series of security consultations throughout the day concerning the incident. Security officials are increasingly leaning towards the possibility of a terrorist attack, though direct evidence is currently lacking, and all versions are being investigated by the Shin Bet. Passengers are expected to be evacuated from Saudi Arabia by an Israeli Air Force aircraft, pending high-level government approval due to the absence of diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The flight's second pilot is being questioned in Saudi Arabia, with Israeli representatives involved in the investigation. Passengers will be interrogated upon their return to Israel. Investigators are examining the possibility that one of the pilots intended to deliberately crash the plane, but passengers managed to subdue him. The alleged perpetrator is an Omani citizen, while the second pilot is from the UAE. The Omani national is believed to have attempted to seize control of the aircraft. An Israeli source indicated that an undercover security officer, along with other pilots on board, helped to neutralize the pilot and ensure the landing. Netanyahu and Katz have ordered IDF aircraft to transport the passengers back to Israel. El Al had previously offered similar assistance, but its flight was deemed unlikely due to diplomatic constraints.