Tel Aviv: The identity and motive of an Omani co-pilot accused of stabbing the captain of a Flydubai flight bound for Israel remained unclear as investigators continued efforts on Thursday to establish what led to the mid-air incident.
The Flydubai flight, carrying 174 people from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv, was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after the incident reportedly sent the aircraft into a dangerous descent.
Israeli passengers aboard the flight described how the bloodied Indian captain managed to open the cockpit door and seek help. Passengers then reportedly confronted the co-pilot and helped stabilise the aircraft following the steep descent.
“We felt helpless, suspended in the sky, and I didn’t know where to turn. But it was all an instinct to survive,” passenger Assaf Rajuan said in a statement shared under the Israeli presidency.
Saudi and UAE authorities have publicly disclosed few details beyond confirming that an investigation is under way. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot had been arrested.
The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said Captain Sumit Machhar, who has been widely praised for his actions during the incident, was reported to be in stable condition. The condition of the detained co-pilot remained unclear.
In a CNN interview aired on Wednesday evening, Netanyahu said the alleged attacker was an Omani national and was being questioned in Saudi Arabia.
US President Donald Trump said he had discussed the incident “in detail” with Netanyahu over the phone. Trump suggested the co-pilot might have been an extremist or could have been mentally unstable, though investigators had not publicly established a motive.
Netanyahu also said he had spoken with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who agreed that Israel would participate in questioning the suspect. Israel’s Foreign Ministry said people aboard the aircraft included nationals of Israel, India and the UAE, while the US State Department said four passengers held American citizenship.
Flydubai said its flights to and from Israel would remain suspended while the investigation continues.
