Israelis to Join Probe of Flydubai Hijacking Attempt

Israeli investigators are expected to participate in the inquiry into the co-pilot who attempted to hijack and crash a Flydubai flight, according to a source familiar with the investigation cited by Reuters. The suspect has been transferred to the United Arab Emirates, which is leading the investigation to determine the motives and background of the incident. The source declined to specify which Israeli bodies or authorities would be involved.

Meanwhile, the UAE has officially classified the aerial incident as a terror event. Dr. Anwar Gargash, Senior Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the UAE, praised the Indian captain, Smith Machhar, calling him a true hero for his courage, professionalism, and moral integrity in the face of a dangerous terrorist act. This aligns with a warning from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who stated that the perpetrator had undergone Islamist radicalization with the aim of crashing the plane. Netanyahu added that an investigation is underway to determine if the perpetrator was sent, and that whoever sent him would pay a heavy price.

Despite the cooperation in the investigation, diplomatic tensions are emerging. A source close to the Emirati government told N12 that Jerusalem is exploiting the incident for political purposes, and that the use of the term "rescue flights" creates a false impression of a war zone. Furthermore, Flydubai expressed anger over Israel's decision to force the airline to cancel flights until October 15, despite its request to resume operations the following day. The airline has officially announced the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv until further notice.