Netanyahu: Within days, we will be able to determine whether the co-pilot has ties 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 accident.

Netanyahu told Fox News that the co-pilot had undergone a process of “extremist ideological indoctrination.” Before that, the Emirati news agency reported that the Attorney General had directed the formation of a team of members of the Public Prosecution to investigate the Flydubai incident flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv. This comes as the Al Arabiya and Al Hadath correspondent reported that the Saudi authorities are continuing their investigations into the Fly Dubai incident and that the plane is still present at Tabuk Airport, indicating that dealing with the passengers on the damaged plane was in accordance with international protocols.

The Emirati agency stated that the Public Prosecutor’s directive required taking the necessary measures to collect information and evidence, determine the truth of the incident, its circumstances, circumstances and motives, and verify the extent of its connection to any terrorist activity or purpose or the existence of prior planning or direction for it.

The UAE Attorney General confirmed that the investigations are still ongoing, calling for avoiding speculation or circulating unreliable information about the incident before the authorities complete the investigations.

Earlier, Netanyahu said that Israel would get to the "roots" of the incident involving a co-pilot in a failed attempt to shoot down a Flydubai plane that was heading from Dubai to Israel.

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

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

The company announced that an altercation occurred in the cockpit of flight FZ 1073, which was heading from Dubai Airport to Ben Gurion International Airport, but a serious accident occurred inside the cockpit and forced the plane to change its course and make an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

She indicated that the plane was on a regular flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the co-pilot, an Omani national, assaulted the Indian flight captain using an emergency ax that was included in the plane’s equipment.

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

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

With the plane secured, the priority shifted completely to protecting the passengers and keeping the flight away from any additional danger, so the crew decided to change its course and head to Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, and the Indian pilot succeeded in rescuing about 150 passengers.

The reason for the altercation between the pilots was not clear. Flydubai said in a statement that the reasons behind the accident are still unknown, and warned against “premature speculation.” Flights to and from Israel were also suspended in light of the ongoing investigation.