Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot of a flydubai flight that nearly crashed on its way to Israel had undergone radical Islamist indoctrination. The incident involved a 170-person flight that narrowly avoided disaster after the attacker was subdued.
Netanyahu confirmed the co-pilot, an Omani national, was likely acting alone and described the attacker as suicidal. The flight plunged over 14,000 feet in 30 seconds before landing in Saudi Arabia. Investigations are ongoing into potential links to terrorism or Iranian involvement.
The incident has raised security concerns in Israel ahead of its upcoming election, with Netanyahu emphasizing the need to uncover the attacker's motives and any possible connections to external groups. Israeli and UAE authorities are collaborating on the investigation.
Netanyahu did not specify the attacker's background beyond radicalization, and no Iranian involvement has been confirmed. The incident highlights ongoing security challenges in the region amid heightened tensions and political uncertainty.