Netanyahu Blames ‘Islamist Radical Indoctrination’ in Flydubai Attack

Fri Oct 02 2026 09:11:48 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Israel's Netanyahu accuses the attacker on a Flydubai flight of extremist indoctrination, linking the incident to possible Iran ties and broader terror concerns.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that an Omani national who stabbed a fellow pilot and attempted to seize a Flydubai plane from Dubai to Tel Aviv was driven by Islamist radical indoctrination. The plane experienced a sudden descent of more than 17,000 feet, but passengers and crew overpowered the attacker and redirected the flight to a safe landing in Saudi Arabia. Israeli, UAE and Saudi investigations are underway, with speculation that Iran could be involved, while Indian leaders praised the bravery of the stabbed pilot. The incident prompted Flydubai to suspend its Dubai‑Tel Aviv service and has raised concerns over flight security and diplomatic loopholes between Gulf states and Israel.

Netanyahu Blames ‘Islamist Radical Indoctrination’ in Flydubai Attack

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Omani national who stabbed his fellow pilot and tried to seize a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv had been shaped by extremist ideology, according to a Fox Network interview.

The plane, flight FZ1073, plunged more than 17,000 feet (5,200 metres) two hours into its journey, before a wave of passengers and crew managed to subdue the attacker and regain control, landing safely at Tabuk Airport in north‑west Saudi Arabia.

Netanyahu told Fox News that the attacker was “very likely” aiming to crash the aircraft and that he “was calling out to the aircrew 'kill me, kill me', so it was clear he was suicidal – that’s not a question.”

UAE state media reports that investigations have begun to determine whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity or purpose, while Saudi authorities confirmed that the piloting crew had been cleared medically and sent back to the UAE.

Israeli intelligence officials say preliminary findings point toward a deliberate attempt to down the plane. Mossad investigators have interviewed passengers on arrival in Tel Aviv to establish the attacker’s motives.

Both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian Ambassador Deepak Mittal have lauded the stabbed pilot, Indian national Capt Smit Machchhar, as a hero, describing him as showing “immense courage.”

Senior U.S. President Donald Trump and UAE officials have indicated that Iran may have been involved, though they have not officially blamed Tehran. Trump warned that Iran would be “hit very hard” if it was found to have any role.

Netanyahu added that pilots from countries not officially recognised by Israel were usually barred from flying there, suggesting a loophole had been exploited by the suspected Omani pilot. He said cooperation with Emirati authorities aims to prevent a repeat.

Flydubai has suspended all flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv while it completes its own investigation, and Israeli airlines are arranging rescue flights for stranded passengers. The Transportation Ministry has requested that Etihad Airlines increase services between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.