UAE Calls Flydubai Incident a Terror Attack, Cites Pilot's Bravery

The United Arab Emirates has officially designated the recent incident aboard a Flydubai flight to Israel as a "terrorist act." Anwar Gargash, a special advisor to the UAE President, praised the Indian captain on his X account, calling him a "true hero" for his courage and responsibility in confronting a "dangerous terrorist act and a potential disaster." Gargash emphasized the need for vigilance against extremism and terrorism, dismissing attempts to oversimplify the event.

The Indian Captain, speaking on Indian television with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recounted the dramatic moments in the cockpit. He described struggling for his life after sustaining injuries, realizing the plane was plummeting, and fighting to save the 170 passengers. The Indian Captain expressed gratitude for the excellent care he received in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and became emotional during his conversation with Modi, feeling a profound sense of pride.

The co-pilot, an Omani national, is being investigated in Saudi Arabia and has been transferred to the UAE. Both Saudi and UAE authorities reportedly believe the motive was nationalistic rather than psychological. US President Donald Trump stated that Iran is being investigated for a possible connection to the incident, though this is still under review. The investigation is focusing on whether the pilot was directed externally and if he used any weapons or aircraft equipment.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News that the co-pilot is believed to have undergone "Islamist radicalization" and that a connection to Iran is being explored, with findings expected within days. He noted that the UAE is leading the investigation and highlighted a security loophole that allowed the Omani citizen, from a country without diplomatic ties to Israel, to be hired as a pilot for flights to Israel. Netanyahu stated that this loophole is being addressed, similar to background checks conducted for pilots involved in rescuing Israeli passengers from Saudi Arabia.

In a prior interview with CBS, Netanyahu suggested the incident was a "suicide attack" rather than an attempted hijacking, emphasizing the need for enhanced pilot background checks and aircraft security, while stating there was no intelligence indicating an 11 September-style attack. Security officials in Israel previously indicated no clear evidence of Iranian direction and that no specific warnings were received, calling it a significant intelligence and security failure that could have led to disaster. The UAE Attorney General has formed a special investigative team to examine the incident, coordinating with aviation authorities to determine the facts, circumstances, and motives, including any potential links to terrorism or pre-planning. The Attorney General urged the public to avoid speculation and rely only on official information, asserting the UAE's legal jurisdiction over the matter due to the aircraft's registration.