Flydubai Co-Pilot Suspected of Terror Attack on Flight to Tel Aviv

First details are emerging about the co-pilot of a Flydubai flight suspected of attacking the captain during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to Israel Hayom newspaper, the suspect is an Omani citizen, though the airline has not officially released the identities of the crew members. The Omani national reportedly served as the co-pilot on flight FZ1073 and had been with the airline for only nine months. During the flight, he allegedly attacked the captain with a knife, after which the plane began to lose altitude rapidly. The captain, despite his injuries, managed to resist the attacker, and passengers and other pilots intervened. Israeli sources indicate that investigators are considering the possibility of a deliberate attempt to seize control of the aircraft and crash it. The attacker's motive has not yet been officially established, with both terrorist attack and suicide attempt being examined. The co-pilot's nationality is of particular interest, as Oman maintains relations with the UAE but not with Israel. This has prompted the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority to review the airline's hiring procedures for Israeli routes and assess overall compliance with security protocols. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, involving Israeli security forces. The suspect is currently under the control of Saudi authorities after the plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk. Both the injured captain and the suspect are hospitalized in Saudi Arabia. The central question remains unanswered: what drove the co-pilot to attack the captain and whether he intentionally tried to turn the passenger jet into a weapon. Nevertheless, Israel has classified the incident as a jihadist terror attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a meeting with security advisors and instructed security forces to prepare for potential additional threats. A rescue flight carrying evacuated Israelis from Saudi Arabia has departed and is en route to Israel, expected to arrive around 18:00 Jerusalem time.