Defense Minister: Flydubai Plane Incident Was Foiled Jihadist Attack

Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that a serious incident aboard a Flydubai airplane was an attempted jihadist attack. He credited the successful thwarting of the plot to the bravery of several Israeli passengers who rushed the cockpit, subdued the attacker, and regained control of the aircraft for the pilots. Katz indicated that initial intelligence suggests the attacker's sole intention was to crash the plane with all its passengers. He further emphasized the importance of heeding security warnings issued by himself and the Prime Minister, urging both external enemies and internal elements to take them seriously.

Katz's remarks were made following the incident, which he characterized as a direct result of the ongoing security threats Israel faces. He stressed that the passengers' decisive actions prevented a potential catastrophe. The minister's statement also served as a broader warning about the need for vigilance against terrorism and the importance of respecting intelligence-based security alerts.