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A source briefed on the investigation told Reuters that Israeli officials are expected to take part in questioning the co-pilot following his transfer to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday. The individual, identified by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an Omani national, was detained by Saudi authorities after the plane made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. A reserve flydubai crew traveling as passengers took control and landed the aircraft safely after the co-pilot was subdued.
The incident unfolded on October 1 aboard flight FZ1073 carrying more than 170 passengers and crew when the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and caused the jet to plunge sharply. An Israeli government official told Reuters that investigators would participate in the UAE-led inquiry alongside Emirati authorities to establish the facts and scrutinize the suspect’s motives along with his background. The source declined to identify the specific Israeli agency involved while the UAE Foreign Ministry offered no immediate comment on the arrangement.
Netanyahu said in a video statement released by his office that Israel was examining whether the co-pilot acted under anyone’s direction and warned that anyone involved would pay a heavy price. The prime minister added that the suspect had undergone Islamist radicalization and appeared suicidal though investigators have not yet fixed a definitive motive. Emirati state media reported that the authorities opened a formal investigation into whether the events connected to terrorism prior planning or external direction.
Captain Smit Machchhar an Indian national sustained injuries during the cockpit struggle but managed to open the door allowing passengers and crew to overpower the attacker according to an Israeli prime minister’s office spokesperson who spoke to Reuters. The episode has drawn attention to aviation security protocols on routes between the UAE and Israel that were established after the 2020 Abraham Accords normalized bilateral ties. Saudi cooperation in detaining and transferring the co-pilot formed an initial link in the multinational response.
Israeli security officials told Reuters their preliminary assessment indicated the co-pilot likely acted alone with no evidence of Iranian involvement identified at this stage. The probe continues to draw input from additional parties including the United States and Oman as authorities seek a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances. Multiple regional outlets have tracked the case as it moves from Saudi custody into the UAE-centered investigation phase.
