Conspiracy Theory Circulates Online About Netanyahu's Motives in Dubai Flight Incident

A far-fetched conspiracy theory is circulating online, suggesting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ulterior motives during a recent Flydubai flight incident. The theory posits that Netanyahu sought to leverage the hijacking scare to provoke Israeli intervention in the aircraft, even entertaining a scenario where the plane might be shot down if it posed a danger to civilians. According to this narrative, Emirati authorities understood the alleged scheme, changed the hijacking code, and diverted the plane away from Israel towards Saudi Arabia.

The post gained significant traction, garnering nearly 2,000 likes, comments, and shares, with many commenters supporting the unsubstantiated claims. The theory emerged hours after the attempted hijacking of the Flydubai flight to Israel, attempting to assign a different meaning to the plane's flight path after the cockpit drama.

The theory draws partly on actual flight data. Flightradar24 data confirms that after the unusual cockpit event, code 7700 (general emergency) was activated at 05:28 UTC, followed by code 7500 (unlawful interference, associated with hijacking) minutes later. The aircraft briefly entered Jordanian airspace, turned around, and proceeded towards Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The Tabuk airport reported a distress call from the flight at 05:44 UTC requesting an emergency landing.

The theory's author questions why, with the pilot severely injured and a serious incident unfolding, the plane flew to Saudi Arabia instead of making an emergency landing at a closer airport in Jordan or Israel. The explanation offered is that after code 7500 was activated and Israeli fighter jets were scrambled due to the hijacking fears, Emirati officials allegedly realized Israel might take control of the situation. The post claims this prompted the plane to move away from Israeli and Jordanian airspace and head deeper into Saudi territory.

Furthermore, the theory suggests that the UAE feared Israel might be forced to intercept the plane if it was confirmed as hijacked and a threat. It attributes to Netanyahu an attempt to create a "first-class security event with the Emiratis," arguing the diversion to Saudi Arabia was meant to thwart this. However, the article distinguishes between verified data and speculative conclusions. While flight data and Israel's scrambling of jets are confirmed, there is no evidence presented that the decision to land in Saudi Arabia was to prevent Israeli intervention, nor any proof Netanyahu sought to shoot down the plane or create a confrontation with the UAE. The choice of Tabuk also remains unexplained. The investigation into the incident in Saudi Arabia is ongoing, with the country's General Authority of Civil Aviation collecting evidence.