Iran Claims Israel Plotting 'False Flag' Attack on Aircraft

An unusual incident aboard a Flydubai flight to Israel, which ended with an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, has sparked a media dispute. Iran's Fars News Agency claimed Israel is planning an operation targeting aviation in the region to falsely blame Iran and increase international pressure. According to the report, which cites Iranian security sources, the alleged plan involves attacking planes or airports to cause mass casualties. Fars described the purported operation as a "false flag" maneuver designed to conceal the perpetrator's identity and attribute responsibility to another party. The agency also stated that Iranian intelligence agencies are working to thwart this scenario. The Iranian report referenced the Flydubai flight incident but provided no public evidence to support its claims or link them to the events on the plane. This accusation, published by Iranian media, has not been independently verified.

The Flydubai flight was diverted and landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following an incident during the flight. The airline confirmed all passengers were safe and that it was cooperating with relevant authorities. The airport stated that the captain and co-pilot were injured and taken to a hospital. Flight tracking data showed a sharp altitude drop and subsequent distress signals, including a code indicating unlawful interference with the flight, before the aircraft later transmitted a general emergency code. The data documents the flight's progression but does not determine the cause of the incident.

Meanwhile, two Israeli sources told Reuters that Israel assesses the incident as an attempted attack by one of the pilots. According to these sources, the co-pilot is suspected of stabbing the captain before other crew members intervened. The circumstances and motive behind the incident are still under investigation, and reports regarding the pilots' identities vary.