Netanyahu Says Israel May Join Probe Into Foiled Flydubai Flight Crash Attempt

Flydubai Flight Incident: Netanyahu Says It Is “Too Early” to Determine Possible Iran Link

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that it was “too early to say” whether Iran was involved in an alleged attempt to crash a Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu said investigators were examining the actions and possible motives of the co-pilot suspected of attempting to bring down the aircraft.

According to Netanyahu, the suspected co-pilot was being investigated in Saudi Arabia and could later be transferred to the United Arab Emirates. He said Israel was following developments and could “possibly” participate in the investigation.

Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Saudi Arabia

The Flydubai aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after passengers and crew members reportedly intervened and overpowered the co-pilot.

Israeli officials alleged that the co-pilot stabbed the pilot before taking actions that caused the aircraft to lose altitude rapidly. The jet was reported to have plunged by nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds, triggering an emergency onboard.

Despite the dramatic loss of altitude, the crew managed to regain control of the aircraft and land safely.

Investigation Underway

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation. Authorities are expected to examine the co-pilot's actions, possible motives and whether anyone else was involved.

Netanyahu's comments indicate that investigators have not established an Iranian connection at this stage. Any potential link to Iran would need to be established through the ongoing investigation and evidence gathered by the relevant authorities.

The incident has raised security concerns surrounding international aviation, particularly amid continuing tensions in the Middle East.