Netanyahu: Flydubai Attacker Underwent Islamist Radicalization, Intended Plane Crash

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on October 2 that the flydubai attacker underwent "Islamist radicalisation" and came to crash the plane with all passengers on board.

Netanyahu warned Israel would impose a very heavy price on any power behind the incident, adding, "We are investigating whether he was sent, and whoever sent him will pay a very heavy price." Netanyahu did not identify any country as a potential culprit, but US President Donald Trump said Thursday he was hearing Iran was involved and that the country will be hit very hard if so.

Israel and the United States have linked Iran's Shia clerical state to numerous attacks globally since 1979. The incident occurred on Wednesday on a flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv carrying 174 people, mostly Israelis. Israeli officials and witnesses say the Omani co-pilot stabbed the Indian pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar, who then let passengers into the cockpit to overpower the attacker.

Passengers Yaniv Hayoun, Or Fradilov, Dr. Shota Musayev, and his wife, Sigalit, were described by Netanyahu as heroes for their intervention. The plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia with no reported injuries to passengers. The co-pilot and pilot have been transferred to the United Arab Emirates for investigation. Netanyahu had previously left open the possibility that the co-pilot was experiencing mental problems, but now says investigations suggest he was clearly suicidal.

The exact circumstances of the incident and the assailant's motive are under investigation in the United Arab Emirates. Netanyahu described the averted disaster as a "9/11-type disaster."