Defense Minister Confirms Dubai Flight Incident Was Jihadist Attack Attempt

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed on Wednesday that a serious incident aboard a FlyDubai flight was a "jihadist terrorist attempt" aimed at crashing the plane with all its passengers. According to initial intelligence, the sole intention of the attacker was to cause a major disaster in the skies.

The attack was thwarted by the "exceptional bravery" of several Israeli passengers who identified the immediate danger. They acted resourcefully, broke into the cockpit, and overpowered the attacker, thereby regaining control of the aircraft and preventing a catastrophic crash. Their actions saved the lives of dozens of passengers.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he has instructed the security establishment to prepare for additional potential threats following the incident. Defense Minister Katz emphasized that security warnings, which he and Netanyahu issue based on intelligence, should be taken seriously by both external enemies and uninformed former officials. He stressed that these warnings do not replace proactive offensive operations against threats.

Following the incident, a rescue flight was dispatched to Saudi Arabia to bring the passengers back to Israel. Some Israelis chose not to board the return flight due to lingering fear. The flight was expected to land in Israel between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM, with a dedicated reception area prepared at Ben Gurion Airport for passengers and their families.

Transportation Minister Miri Regev recommended suspending FlyDubai flights to Israel until a full investigation is completed, citing a violation of the aviation agreement between Israel and the UAE. An Israeli source noted that the co-pilot, an Omani citizen, had not previously landed in Israel. The incident has also had economic repercussions, with shares of Israeli airlines El Al and Israir rising amid expectations that Israelis will prefer local carriers in the near future.