Netanyahu: We will be able within days to determine whether the co-pilot is linked to Iran

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that his country will be able to determine within days whether the co-pilot has ties to Iran, referring to the FlyDubai incident.

Netanyahu told Fox News that the co-pilot underwent a process of "extremist ideological indoctrination." Previously, the Emirati news agency reported that the Attorney General directed the formation of a team from the public prosecution to investigate the FlyDubai incident, which was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv. This comes as Al Arabiya and Al Hadath correspondents reported that Saudi authorities continue their investigations into the FlyDubai incident and that the aircraft is still at Tabuk Airport, noting that the handling of passengers on the damaged aircraft was in accordance with international protocols.

The Emirati agency reported that the Attorney General's directive included taking necessary measures to gather information and evidence, understand the facts, circumstances, and motives of the incident, and verify whether it is linked to any terrorist activity or if there was any prior planning or direction for it.

The Emirati Attorney General confirmed that investigations are still ongoing, urging to avoid speculation or the circulation of unreliable information regarding the incident before the authorities complete their investigations.

Earlier, Netanyahu stated that Israel would reach the "roots" of the incident involving the co-pilot's involvement in a failed attempt to down a Flydubai aircraft that was en route from Dubai to Israel.

The Israeli Prime Minister added that "it is too early to determine the connection of the incident to Iran."

Flydubai announced the suspension of its flights to and from Israel until the investigations into the incident that occurred yesterday morning are completed.

The company stated that a dispute occurred in the cockpit of flight "FZ 1073," which was headed from Dubai Airport to Ben Gurion International Airport, but a serious incident took place in the cockpit that forced the aircraft to change its course and make an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

It was noted that the aircraft was on a routine flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the co-pilot, who is of Omani nationality, attacked the Indian captain using an emergency axe that was part of the aircraft's equipment.

According to information related to the incident, the tool had not been brought onto the plane from outside, which means that the co-pilot did not pass through security checks at Dubai Airport carrying a weapon or prohibited tool, but rather used one of the emergency tools available on board the aircraft.

The Indian captain was injured during the confrontation, but he resisted the assault and tried to prevent the co-pilot from taking control of the plane, while another pilot who was on board the flight as part of the crew intervened to help contain the situation and regain control of the cockpit.

With the aircraft secured, the priority shifted entirely to protecting the passengers and keeping the flight away from any additional danger, leading the crew to decide to change its course and head to Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where the Indian pilot successfully saved nearly 150 passengers.

The reason for the altercation between the pilots remains unclear. Flydubai stated in a statement that the underlying causes of the incident are still unknown and warned against "premature speculation." It also suspended flights to and from Israel amid the ongoing investigation.