'Jihadist Terror Attempt': Israel Seeks flydubai Omani Pilot's Extradition
An Indian pilot and passengers on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv successfully thwarted a mid-air attack by a co-pilot. Israeli officials are investigating the incident as a potential jihadist-motivated terror attempt and are seeking the extradition of the suspect, who is currently in Saudi custody.
Why it matters
The incident highlights significant aviation security concerns and potential geopolitical tensions involving Israel, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
The dramatic attack inside the cockpit of a Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv is being investigated as a possible terrorist attack, with Israel saying the incident bore "jihadistic" characteristics and confirming that it intends to seek the extradition of the suspected attacker.In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said investigators were still working to establish who was behind the incident and whether it was part of a wider terror plot. But he was unequivocal about Israel's initial assessment of what happened aboard Flight FZ1073."It is clearly a terror attempt with jihadists' characteristics that we saw here," Sa'ar said.The Boeing 737, flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was forced to divert to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia after an alleged confrontation in the cockpit in which Indian Captain Smit Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in