Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that an Omani copilot accused of attacking the pilot of a flydubai flight may have been radicalized by extremist ideology. During the incident, the copilot reportedly attempted to down the aircraft but was restrained by passengers. Following his restraint, the copilot allegedly called out for someone to kill him, according to Netanyahu’s statement.
In addition to Netanyahu’s comments, an Israeli official indicated that the suspect’s social media accounts contained statements about killing Jews. While the investigation is ongoing, Netanyahu mentioned it is premature to determine any connection between the suspect and Iran. Both U.S. and Israeli officials are looking into possible links as part of their probe into the incident.
The flydubai aircraft was diverted to Saudi Arabia following the incident, and both the captain and copilot were subsequently transferred to the United Arab Emirates for medical treatment. Emirati authorities are currently investigating the copilot for alleged terrorist activity or intent.
Regional authorities continue to examine the motive and circumstances behind the attack as they work to establish a clearer understanding of the event. The investigation remains active as officials seek to uncover further details.