Netanyahu says Omani flydubai co-pilot underwent ‘Islamist radical indoctrination’; claims screening ‘loophole’ let him fly to Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Thursday that the co-pilot responsible for attempting to crash a Flydubai passenger jet en route to Israel had been indoctrinated with Islamist extremism. In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu asserted that he had knowledge of the co-pilot's radicalization. The motive behind the harrowing near-disaster on Wednesday's Flydubai flight FZ1073, which originated in Dubai and was intended for Tel Aviv, remains undetermined.

Passengers managed to overpower the attacker, allowing a reserve crew to safely land the aircraft in Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu stated that he would be able to confirm within a few days whether the co-pilot had ties to Iran. He indicated that it was premature to determine any connections with other individuals at this point. Netanyahu emphasized that the co-pilot's suicidal tendencies, coupled with the Islamist radicalization found in his background, provided a strong indication of his motivations. However, he refrained from making definitive conclusions pending further investigation.