Netanyahu: Dubai-Tel Aviv Flight Attacker Was 'Radicalized,' Plane Likely Targeted for Downing

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that preliminary investigations into the dramatic mid-air attack aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv indicate the assailant had undergone what he described as "Islamist radical indoctrination." In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu characterized the attacker—whom he identified as an Omani national—as someone who very likely intended to bring the aircraft down, calling the evidence pointing in that direction "very likely."

The incident unfolded on Wednesday aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, which had departed Dubai International Airport at 03:05 GMT (07:05 local time) carrying more than 170 people. Approximately two hours into the journey, the plane suddenly plunged more than 17,000 feet (5,200 meters) in what passenger Almog Itali described as feeling like a "rollercoaster." The aircraft's rapid descent was captured by flight tracking website Flightradar24, and minutes later the plane transmitted an emergency signal.

According to Netanyahu's account, the attacker first stabbed a fellow pilot before attempting to seize control of the aircraft. Passengers and crew members ultimately overpowered him and managed to retake control, allowing the plane to land safely. The prime minister told Fox News that once the attacker had been subdued and restrained, he was "calling out to the aircrew 'kill me, kill me,'" adding that "it's clear he was suicidal, that's not a question."

Netanyahu suggested that the combination of the attacker's suicidal statements, the reported radicalization in his background, and the presence of numerous passengers aboard pointed strongly toward a deliberate attempt to destroy the aircraft. He was careful to note, however, that he was not making final conclusions, describing the indications as preliminary. When asked earlier on the same network whether Iran might have been involved in the incident, Netanyahu responded that it was "too early to say."

The United Arab Emirates, whose flag the aircraft flies under, has launched its own investigation into the incident. The UAE state news agency reported that authorities are working to determine "whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity or purpose." UAE officials have asserted jurisdiction over the case, citing the fact that the aircraft is registered in the Emirates and operates under its flag—a legal position that could complicate investigative coordination with other nations.

The co-pilot is currently being questioned in Saudi Arabia, where the plane made its emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in the north-west of the kingdom. The attacker was also arrested in Saudi Arabia and, according to Netanyahu, is expected to be transferred to the UAE to face justice. The jurisdictional questions surrounding the case—spanning the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Oman—add significant diplomatic and legal complexity to an already fraught investigation.

A separate Israeli investigation, led by the intelligence agency Mossad, has been conducting its own inquiry. An Israeli security source told BBC Arabic that preliminary findings suggest the alleged attacker intended to crash the plane. Investigators interviewed passengers after they arrived in Tel Aviv to piece together exactly what transpired during those terrifying minutes in the air.

The flight's path, reconstructed from tracking data, shows the aircraft departed Dubai and flew north-west across Saudi Arabia toward Israel. Near the Israel-Jordan border, the plane declared a general emergency at 05:31 GMT and issued a hijacking alert at 05:38. The aircraft then briefly entered Jordanian airspace before looping back into Saudi Arabia, turning away from Tel Aviv and diverting south. It began a manual descent and landed safely at Tabuk Airport at 06:58 GMT.

Both Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have publicly praised the stabbed pilot, Indian national Captain Smit Machchhar, as a hero. The Indian government has lauded Machchhar for what it called his "immense courage." India's ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, visited the injured pilot in hospital on Thursday, and the Indian Mission confirmed on social media that Machchhar was "in good health and recovering well." Images circulated by the Indian embassy in Israel showed the pilot smiling in his cockpit, wearing glasses and a white shirt with a pen tucked into his pocket.

In the aftermath of the attack, Flydubai has suspended flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv while it conducts its own internal investigation. Israel's Transportation Ministry stated that the suspension aligns with a directive from Netanyahu. The grounding of the route has left numerous travelers stranded, prompting Israeli airlines including El Al, Israir, and Arkia to announce plans for rescue flights from Dubai beginning on Friday to bring back affected passengers.

The Transportation Ministry also revealed it had sent an urgent request to Etihad Airlines to increase the number of flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv, underscoring the strain the incident has placed on regional air connectivity. The suspension and the scramble for alternative arrangements reflect both the severity of the security concerns and the reliance on air links between the UAE and Israel, which have grown significantly since the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The attack raises broader questions about aviation security in a region already marked by geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflicts. The fact that a passenger allegedly carried out a stabbing and attempted takeover aboard a commercial flight with more than 170 people on board has renewed scrutiny on screening procedures at Dubai International Airport, one of the world's busiest aviation hubs. It also highlights the vulnerability of cockpits to intrusion once an aircraft is airborne—a scenario that international aviation regulators have long sought to prevent through reinforced cockpit doors and strict access protocols.

The role of passengers and crew in subduing the attacker has drawn widespread commendation, with many hailing their actions as decisive in preventing a catastrophe. Their intervention, combined with the pilot's efforts despite being stabbed, has been credited with saving lives. The incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of security threats in civil aviation and the importance of rapid response by both trained personnel and ordinary travelers.

As investigations proceed across multiple jurisdictions, the full picture of the attacker's motivations, background, and any potential connections to organized groups remains under examination. Netanyahu's remarks have framed the incident within the context of Islamist radicalization, while UAE authorities have taken a more cautious approach, emphasizing the need to determine whether any terrorist link exists. The transfer of the suspect to Emirati custody and the ongoing questioning of the co-pilot in Saudi Arabia are expected to yield further details in the coming days. For now, the safe landing at Tabuk stands as the outcome that prevented what officials increasingly believe was intended to be a mass-casualty disaster.