Israel minister Ben-Gvir to demand flydubai co-pilot's extradition after foiled ‘crash bid’. UAE asserts ‘jurisdiction’ over probe

Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, expressed concerns over the timing of the Flydubai flight incident, stating that it occurred at a particularly sensitive time. The incident took place just before upcoming elections in Israel, the third anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, and shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the UAE.

Azar emphasized that the investigation into the motive behind the incident must be completed before drawing any conclusions. The co-pilot of the Flydubai flight attempted to sabotage the aircraft and later stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot, who fought back and opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot.

Azar praised the bravery of Captain Machchhar and the passengers, calling it an "amazing example" of how people can fight terrorism together. He stated that Israel's security agencies will investigate the incident and improve protocols to prevent similar events in the future.