The co-pilot who allegedly tried to hijack a flight to Israel on Wednesday attacked his fellow pilot with an axe, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed as questions loomed over the motives and background of the assailant.
“As [the plane] approached Israel, one of the co-pilots stabbed or hit with an axe the other pilot, an Indian pilot,” the Israeli premier told CBS News on Wednesday, hours after the attack.
“The pilot that was hit, bleeding profusely, fighting for his life, managed to unlock the pilot's door,” he said, hailing captain Smit Machchhar, who was seriously injured in the attack, as a hero.
It remains unclear how the pilot gained access to a weapon and some analysts have suggested it may have been the emergency axe kept in the cockpit in case of emergency.
Passenger Daniel Schlichter told Fox News on Thursday that the cabin was alerted to the attack by a woman and her daughter who happened to see what was going on while heading to the lavatory on board.
“There was a woman with a daughter going to the toilet, and a few seconds after that, she pulled her daughter back to the passenger area, screaming, 'He stabbed the pilot!” he told the US outlet.
Trump warns Tehran would be ‘hit very hard’ if FlyDubai attack linked to Iran
US president Donald Trump has warned that Iran would be “hit very hard” if it was found to have been involved in the attack.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said pilots from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel were generally barred from flying there, raising questions over how the suspected Omani pilot was allowed on the Flydubai flight.
He said: “Obviously there was a loophole here and we’re taking care of that among other things... with the full co-operation, I have to say, of the Emirati government, so we’re both interested in making sure this doesn’t happen again.”
Oman, unlike the UAE, does not have formal diplomatic ties with Israel.
Asked whether there was evidence of Iranian involvement, Netanyahu said: “It’s too early to say.”
Watch: Flydubai pilot reveals desperate attempts to unlock cockpit to passengers while being attacked
Flydubai pilot tells India PM Modi he opened cockpit door while being attacked
An Indian pilot who was attacked in the FlyDubai flight incident told prime minister Narendra Nodi on Wednesday that he opened the door of the plane’s cockpit while being attacked, according to a video clip released by the prime minister's office on Friday.
Watch: Netanyahu says Flydubai co-pilot underwent Islamist radical indoctrination
Israeli defence minister claims Flydubai cockpit attack ‘jihadist terror attack’
Israeli defence minister Israel Katz has described the Flydubai cockpit incident as “a jihadist terrorist attack attempt”.
Katz said in a statement: “The grave incident on the flydubai plane was a jihadist terrorist attack attempt, which was thwarted only thanks to the bravery of several Israeli passengers who broke into the cockpit, overpowered the terrorist and, with their own hands, restored control of the plane to another flight crew who was present there.”
Israel’s ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said that there was “no doubt” the pilot intended to bring the Tel Aviv-bound plane down.
“We have no doubt that it was a terror attack from a radical individual. We still cannot link it to a terror state or a terror organisation, but for sure we know that there was an intention to bring that plane down,” he told Fox News.
He also described the incident as an attack on the Abraham Accords.
How a six-year-old helped prevent a 9/11-style major disaster
A six-year-old girl, identified as Nina Manes, may have helped prevent a major disaster on the Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv after asking her mother to take her to the lavatory.
Near the cockpit, her mother Tali Manes heard shouting and raised the alarm, then saw the captain being stabbed by the co-pilot.
“There was blood all over the cockpit and very, very sharp fighting moves,” the mother of the six-year-old told the Israeli Channel 12.
“I screamed, ‘He’s stabbing the pilot, he’s stabbing the pilot, come help!’ People looked at me and didn’t understand.”
Passengers, including the girl’s father, rushed into the cockpit and subdued the co-pilot as the plane plunged from 34,000ft to 15,000ft.
The aircraft, which suffered damage to its rudder, eventually landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
Israeli officials said the Omani co-pilot appeared to have been radicalised and told The Times of Israel that he had talked online about “killing Jews”.
Investigators examining multiple possible motives
A regional official familiar with the Flydubai investigation has told the Associated Press that Saudi investigators were working with authorities from the UAE, US, Oman and Israel, and that “all possible scenarios, from terrorism to mental disorders, are being looked into”.
“Nothing is ruled out for now”, the official said.
Two Israeli security officials said their initial assessment was that the co-pilot was probably acting alone.
The co-pilot, whose identity remains unknown, was arrested by Saudi security forces after the plane landed in Tabuk, northwest Saudi Arabia, and was being questioned by investigators.
The UAE has also launched its own investigation into the attacker’s motive and whether the incident had any links to a “terrorist purpose”.
Benjamin Netanyahu said: “It looks very likely that he was going to down the plane … The Islamist tendencies, that radicalisation that are found in his background, I think that’s a pretty good clue,” he said.
Four Israeli passengers to receive heroism awards
Four Israeli passengers who helped overpower the attacker on the Flydubai flight will receive “heroism” awards for preventing a potential disaster, Israeli officials said.
Passengers intervened after the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and the aircraft began to plummet.
One of those passengers, plumber Yaniv Hayoun, later told Benjamin Netanyahu that he and others heard screaming and felt the air pressure change as the plane dived before forcing their way into the cockpit.
“I grabbed the attacker, put him in a chokehold, and dragged him out first,” Hayoun said.
How the Flydubai hijacking could help Netanyahu stay in power
The Flydubai hijacking attempt serves only one man’s interests - Israel’s Prime Minister seeking re-election, World affairs editor Sam Kiley explains:
Flydubai suspends flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv
Flydubai has suspended flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv while authorities investigate the cockpit attack.
The suspension has left passengers stranded and Israeli airlines El Al, Israir and Arkia are planning rescue flights from Dubai to bring travellers back on Friday.
Israel’s transportation ministry has also made an urgent request to Etihad Airways to increase flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.