Netanyahu Hints at External Involvement in Flydubai Pilot's Attempted Crash

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 investigations are ongoing and some in Israel have been hesitant to label the incident as terrorism, Netanyahu stated, "As time goes by, the picture becomes clearer. Yaniv and his heroic friends prevented a disaster of the September 11th kind." He added that the perpetrator "came to crash the plane with its passengers" and that "whoever sent him will pay a very heavy price." This statement comes after the UAE's advisor to the president, Anwar Gargash, officially called the incident a "terrorist act" on social media, marking the first such designation by the Emirates. Gargash praised the heroic Indian pilot, Smith Machchar, for his bravery in averting a potential catastrophe. Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump had mentioned hearing about Iran's potential connection to the incident. Defense Minister Israel Katz had also previously described the event as an "attempted jihadist attack." Israel is seeking to be involved as an observer in the investigation, which has moved to the UAE after the pilots were transferred from Saudi Arabia. The heroic Indian pilot, Smith Machchar, recounted the harrowing moments, describing how he felt the plane nosedive and knew he had to act to save the 170 passengers. He spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who lauded his courage and stated that India is a nation that saves lives. Machchar expressed his admiration for Modi, calling him his idol.