Netanyahu says too early to tell who was behind plane incident as flydubai halts all flights to Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that it remains too early to determine who orchestrated an apparent mid-air effort to crash a flydubai airliner en route to Tel Aviv. His remarks come as the airline halted its flight operations between Dubai and Israel pending a full inquiry.

The mid-flight emergency began when one pilot stabbed the aircraft's captain on the flight deck, seemingly trying to seize control of the passenger plane. The aircraft carried more than 170 people, a majority of whom were Israeli citizens. As the jet dropped sharply, several passengers and crew members stormed into the cockpit, physically overpowered the assailant, stabilized the aircraft, and carried out an emergency landing in northwestern Saudi Arabia.

During an appearance on Fox News, Netanyahu said authorities will discover the origins of the assault and whether the suspect operated alongside collaborators. When questioned about possible ties to Iran, the prime minister urged caution, stating it was too premature to make such an assessment. He noted that Saudi investigators were questioning the suspect, who is expected to be moved to the United Arab Emirates. Following discussions with the Emirati president, Israeli representatives are set to take part in interrogating the individual.

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, also characterized the event as a deliberate act of terror by a radicalized person, telling Fox News there was no doubt about the perpetrator's intention to destroy the airliner, though investigators have not yet linked the action to a specific government or militant faction. Internally, Israel's foreign ministry instructed diplomats to describe the event as an attempted terror attack directed against Israel, the UAE, and the Abraham Accords. Unnamed Israeli officials identified the suspect as a citizen of Oman, though neither Oman nor the UAE has confirmed that claim.

United States President Donald Trump addressed the incident from the Oval Office following a discussion with Netanyahu, describing the situation as still lacking clarity. Trump remarked that the co-pilot might have been an extremist or mentally unstable individual who attacked the flight commander.

In a statement, flydubai said services to and from Israel are suspended throughout the investigation, calling on observers to avoid early conclusions while official agencies uncover the facts.

Details of the struggle emerged after passengers returned safely to Israel. Passenger Yaniv Hayoun recounted how travelers reacted to sudden screams and changes in cabin pressure as the plane plummeted. Passengers forced their way onto the flight deck, where Hayoun subdued the suspect in a chokehold while others fought for the controls to level the aircraft.

The injured pilot, Indian national Captain Smit Machchhar from Mumbai, managed to unlock the cockpit door and transmit an emergency alert despite his injuries. Machchhar is receiving medical care in a hospital in the Saudi city of Tabuk. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Machchhar as a hero on social media, commending his determination and bravery in preventing a catastrophic disaster.