International
oi-Ashish Rana
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned on Friday that Israel will make those behind the attempt to crash flydubai flight pay a “very heavy price”. This warning has come after two days of Dubai-Tel Aviv flight was diverted to Saudi Arabia following a violent incident in the cockpit.
Israeli PM Netanyahu issued a stern warning after an alleged radicalized Omani co-pilot attempted to crash flydubai flight FZ1073 on September 30, but Indian Captain Smit Machchhar saved 174 people by overpowering the attacker, diverting the plane to Saudi Arabia.
Netanyahu Says Co-Pilot Was Radicalised
According to Netanyahu the picture surrounding the 30 September incident was becoming clearer. He alleged that the Omani co-pilot that had undergone Islamist radicalisation and intended to crash the aircraft with everyone on board.
“As time passes, the picture is becoming clearer: The attacker underwent Islamist radicalisation. He came to crash the plane with all passengers on board,” Netanyahu said.
“We are investigating whether he was sent, and whoever sent him will pay a very heavy price,” he added.
However, the motive and whether anyone else was behind the incident remain under investigation. Reuters reported that Israeli officials are expected to question the accused co-pilot.
Indian Captain Smit Machchhar Saved Flight
Flydubai flight FZ1073 was carrying 174 people when the incident took place on September 30. The co-pilot allegedly attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar and attempted to take control of the aircraft.
Despite being injured, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to enter and overpower the attacker. The aircraft was then diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
Israel Probes Omani Pilots’ Entry
Netanyahu had earlier said the co-pilot was an Omani national and raised questions about how he was able to operate a flight into Israel, as Oman does not have diplomatic relations with the country.
“Well, he was an Omani national and we have constraints that say you can’t have pilots from countries that don’t have diplomatic relations with Israel…So obviously he was able to go through that. So there’s a loophole there: How to make sure that we screened pilots in advance,” Netanyahu told Fox & Friends.
Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev has ordered an investigation into whether the aviation agreement covering flydubai flights was breached. According to Israeli reports, the agreement requires pilots operating flights to Israel to come from countries that have normalised relations with Israel.
The investigation is expected to examine the co-pilot’s background, crew clearance procedures and the circumstances that allowed him to operate the Tel Aviv-bound flight.
