Global Media Cautious on Dubai Flight Incident, Israel Considers Terrorism

More than 24 hours after a dramatic incident on a Flydubai flight, major international media outlets, including AP, CNN, and The New York Times, are refraining from labeling the event a potential terrorist attack. They are adhering to Flydubai's official stance, which advises against speculation while the investigation is ongoing. Current reports describe the harrowing events, including the plane's dangerous dive, but still categorize it as a "quarrel between the two pilots."

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on Tuesday that the incident was a "jihadist attack," but the BBC noted that official statements from police or investigative bodies regarding the motive are still pending. The South China Morning Post highlighted Netanyahu's praise for the pilot and passengers for preventing the crash, while CNBC reported that "passengers and crew thwarted the alleged attempt by the co-pilot to crash the plane" en route to Israel.

The French newspaper Le Monde took a distinct approach with the headline "What we know about the attempted hijacking of the Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv," reporting that Israeli authorities are not ruling out terrorism or a suicide attempt. Meanwhile, social media has been flooded with videos portraying Israelis as heroes, particularly in scenarios involving potential hijackings. One Instagram account praised the presence of Israeli passengers, suggesting they are preferable in such situations compared to Americans who "don't really like confrontation."

Another Instagram account drew parallels to the heroism of Indian flight attendant Neerja Bhanot, who aided passengers during a 1986 hijacking. Conversely, the British website Canary, known for its anti-Zionist stance, dismissed the reports as "full of holes" and a "false report," linking it to an upcoming "D-Day" for Prime Minister Netanyahu.