Flydubai copilot transferred to UAE; Israeli official says he likely acted alone

A senior Israeli official has stated that the suspected co-pilot of a Flydubai flight, who allegedly tried to crash the aircraft, likely acted alone. The co-pilot, an Omani national, was transferred from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday. Indian captain Smit Machchhar, who fought the co-pilot in the cockpit, was also transferred to the UAE for further treatment after being stabbed during the incident.

The UAE has expressed anger to Israel over the Israeli government's conclusion that the co-pilot acted out of terrorist motives before the investigation was complete. Israeli officials are cautious in determining the pilot's motive, given the sensitive nature of the term "terror." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously suggested that the attacker had received Islamist radical indoctrination.

However, Israeli assessments now suggest that the motive may have been nationalist and religious. Israel has been invited to observe the investigation in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, but Riyadh has reportedly declined to involve them. The UAE has conveyed strong messages to Israel regarding their stance on the investigation's progress.

Indian captain Machchhar, who successfully fought the co-pilot, was also transferred to the UAE for further medical attention. He was stabbed with an emergency axe found in the cockpit. Netanyahu acknowledged that the Omani co-pilot had exploited a loophole in flight restrictions to operate flights to Israel, suggesting that further such attempts could occur.

Trump was asked whether the pilot had any connection to Iran, to which he responded that the answer was "yes" but they were still investigating.