Israel to Lead Probe into Flydubai Hijacking Attempt, Question Passengers

Israel's Mossad intelligence agency will lead the investigation into the attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight, with the Shin Bet security agency set to question passengers upon their arrival at Ben Gurion Airport. Security officials believe Saudi authorities will permit Mossad agents to interrogate the co-pilot suspect, who diverted the plane to Saudi Arabia.

The investigation is focusing on the co-pilot's motives and whether he acted alone or as part of a larger network. International aviation law designates Saudi Arabia as the "host country" since the incident concluded on its territory, but jurisdiction also extends to the UAE, where the plane is registered, and countries whose citizens were aboard. Israel asserts priority due to the flight's 160 passengers being overwhelmingly Israeli.

Israeli authorities are determined to conduct the investigation themselves. The Shin Bet will interview each passenger individually using a pre-prepared questionnaire to reconstruct events in the cockpit and cabin. Investigators are considering all possibilities, including whether the co-pilot was a lone actor or directed by an organization or state. They are also examining whether his intention was to crash the plane with its Israeli passengers or to land it in a third country for negotiations.