Ambassador to UAE says flydubai incident didn't weaken Israel-Emirati relations - interview

Ambassador Yossi Shelley stated that the recent attack on a flydubai flight did not weaken the strategic relationship between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He attributed the response to the Emirati authorities as evidence of the strength of the ties established under the Abraham Accords. Shelley recounted receiving a warm reception from Emirati officials and the public following the incident on September 30, in which a co-pilot attacked the captain of flydubai flight FZ1073, causing the plane to rapidly descend before passengers and crew regained control.

Shelley highlighted the prompt response from a senior Emirati business executive when he called around 1 a.m., emphasizing the trust between the two countries. The investigation into the incident is being conducted by authorities from Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, with the UAE transferring the Omani co-pilot for further investigation.

Shelley expressed a desire to send an Israeli investigation team to the UAE and underlined the importance of determining whether the attacker acted independently or was sent by someone else, as this could have implications for future flights.

The incident prompted Shelley to advocate for stricter screening of flight crews, especially when airlines operate routes connecting countries with political or military tensions. He suggested that authorities should consider the nationalities and backgrounds of pilots when assigning crews to sensitive routes. Shelley also expressed gratitude to Captain Smit Machchhar, the injured Indian pilot who helped subdue the attacker, and hoped to personally thank him upon his transfer to the UAE.

Despite the attack, Shelley reaffirmed the resilience of the Abraham Accords and Israel's relationship with the UAE, stating that the incident did not weaken the partnership and that the two countries would continue to navigate their relationship with new procedures in place.