“The pilot succeeded in preventing a disaster similar to September 11.” Netanyahu reveals to Ofoq News the behind-the-scenes of what happened on the “Fly Dubai” plane.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Ofoq News Network on Wednesday that the pilot who fought back - on a Flydubai flight that was rerouted - after it appeared that another pilot in the cockpit tried to shoot down the plane "succeeded in preventing a catastrophe similar to the attacks of September 11, 2001," in reference to the attacks that the United States was subjected to after Al-Qaeda members targeted the World Trade Towers. "This is what appears to have been happening in terms of the specific motivations behind this," Netanyahu told Ufoq News' Jim Sciuto, adding that he had spoken with US President Donald Trump "about this amazing, heroic act that prevented a catastrophe; not only would it have been a catastrophe for Israel, but you can imagine how it could have affected the global aviation sector."

He continued: "What distinguishes this incident from other tragic attacks is that the good side prevailed this time." He pointed out that Israel did not receive any warning or prior intelligence information regarding the incident, and that an investigation is currently underway into the incident.

Israel described the incident as an “attempted terrorist attack,” but has not yet announced details regarding the attacker’s motives. For its part, the General Authority of Civil Aviation in the Emirates announced, in a statement, that Flydubai flight FZ1073, heading from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion International Airport, witnessed a security incident that was brought under control, which required the plane to be diverted and make an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The statement continued: “The accident resulted in injuries to some of the plane’s crew, and they were transferred to the hospital to receive the necessary care in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The authority confirms that the safety and security of passengers and crew members is its top priority.” The authority explained that “the teams responsible for the investigation in the authority, in coordination with the relevant authorities, are continuing the investigation work to determine the causes and circumstances of the incident, including reviewing the operational and security aspects.”