Netanyahu Says Co-Pilot Of FlyDubai Plane Underwent Radical Islamist Indoctrination

Netanyahu told Fox News the co-pilot who stabbed the captain of FlyDubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday had undergone 'Islamist radical indoctrination' and was 'clearly suicidal,' based on what he called gathered personal information. The flight, carrying more than 170 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv, dropped more than 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds before the wounded captain got passengers to subdue the attacker and a reserve crew landed the plane in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Two unnamed Israeli security officials said their initial assessment is that the co-pilot, identified as an Omani national, likely acted alone, with the investigation still ongoing. Israel's own ambassador to the UAE said it was too early to draw conclusions, and Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have offered no public confirmation of motive.

Netanyahu also raised the possibility of Iranian involvement while acknowledging it was too early to say, though Israeli officials said no such link has been found. The UAE has opened its own investigation into whether the incident involved prior planning or terrorist intent.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.