Saudi Arabia Transfers Attacker Pilot to UAE, Cooperation Underway

Saudi Arabia announced on Thursday that the attacker pilot, an Omani citizen, has been transferred to the United Arab Emirates. Investigation teams from both countries are cooperating on the case. Israeli officials view this transfer as a positive step that will aid the investigation and allow for more significant cooperation with investigators.

U.S. He also mentioned that after passengers and crew subdued the attacker, he urged them, "Kill me," describing the pilot as "suicidal."

The Indian Express reported that the injured Indian captain, Smith Macher, was flown to Dubai for medical treatment. In a previous interview with Fox News, Netanyahu stated that Israel possesses intelligence about Iran's intentions and its proxies, including Hamas and Hezbollah, to carry out attacks against Israelis abroad ahead of elections. He clarified in a CNN interview that there was no specific warning about this incident. Netanyahu also said the co-pilot was being interrogated in Saudi Arabia and was expected to be transferred to the UAE soon, with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed agreeing to Israeli participation in the investigation.

President Trump called the co-pilot "a terrorist or a madman." Senior U.S. and Saudi sources briefed on the investigation told NBC that initial findings point to a terrorist act. The UAE's state news agency reported that the country's attorney general ordered an investigation into the incident, including the possibility of links to "terrorist activity."

Israeli assessments suggest that the Mossad and Shin Bet will receive updates and may request investigators to focus on specific aspects, though full Israeli participation in the investigation is not expected. The incident began over Saudi airspace about an hour before the plane's scheduled landing in Israel. Flight data indicated the plane rapidly descended from 34,000 feet to 16,000 feet within two minutes, then transmitted a general distress code, followed by a hijacking code. The aircraft turned towards Jordan, crossed into its airspace, then changed course back to Saudi Arabia, eventually landing at a low altitude near the airport in Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia.