Netanyahu Hints at External Involvement in Flydubai Crash Attempt

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested on Friday that the co-pilot involved in the attempted crash of a Flydubai flight may have been sent by an external party. While the investigation is ongoing and the nature of the incident remains undetermined by some in Israel, Netanyahu implied that if the co-pilot was directed by someone, that individual would "pay a very heavy price." He stated that the investigation is working to clarify whether the co-pilot was sent and by whom, adding that "as time goes by, the picture becomes clearer." Earlier, Anwar Gargash, an advisor to the UAE President, officially labeled the incident as a "terrorist act" in a social media post, marking the first such designation by the Emirates. Gargash praised the pilot, Smith Machchar, for his bravery in averting a potential disaster, calling him a "true hero."

Defense Minister Israel Katz had previously described the event as a "jihadist attempted attack." Netanyahu also commented on the possibility of Iranian involvement in a prior interview in the US, stating that the investigation would soon determine if Iran was behind the act, but refrained from definitive conclusions before the inquiry's end. The investigation into the attempted plane crash has been transferred to the United Arab Emirates, following the transfer of the Indian pilot and the Omani co-pilot to Abu Dhabi. Israel requested observer status in the investigation in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, but Riyadh declined. However, Israel hopes to be closely involved in the UAE's investigation due to strong bilateral relations.

The pilot, Smith Machchar, spoke from a hospital, recounting the harrowing moments when he felt the plane nosedive and his struggle to regain control. He expressed gratitude for the medical care he received in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended Machchar's courage and composure, stating that his actions saved numerous lives and that India is a nation that risks its own life to save others. Machchar, visibly emotional, told Modi that he considered him an idol.