The story so far
written Oct 1What is happening
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Thursday it is "too early to say" if Iran was involved in the September 30 stabbing of a FlyDubai pilot by his co-pilot [5]. The official Israeli position that it is "too early" to determine Iranian involvement leaves the question of attribution to Iran or its proxies by October 31 unsettled. The Boeing 737 Max 8, traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after passengers and crew intervened to stop a precipitous loss of altitude [1], [6].
Netanyahu noted "signs" of planned attacks by Iranian proxies Hamas and Hezbollah ahead of Israel's October 27 elections, but stated he does not yet know if this incident was part of such a plan [5]. The co-pilot, an Omani national, is currently in Saudi custody [6]. The UAE prosecutor general ordered an investigation Thursday to determine if the incident involved terrorist activity, prior planning, or direction [2], [4].
What to watch
The UAE investigation into the stabbing is ongoing to determine if the event involved terrorist activity or prior direction [2], [4]. Israeli intelligence agencies Mossad and Shin Bet are also probing a possible Iranian role in the incident [12]. A formal statement from the Israeli government attributing the act to Iran or its proxies before October 31 would satisfy the conditions of the market.
FlyDubai has temporarily suspended flights to Tel Aviv while the investigation continues [11]. The co-pilot remains in the custody of Saudi Arabian authorities following the emergency landing in Tabuk [6].
Read the full brief · how we got here
How we got here
The incident occurred on September 30 when a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted after a clash between pilots in the cockpit [8]. Passengers and crew intervened to gain control of the aircraft following a loss of altitude [1]. Israeli officials initially stated the diversion was not a hijacking incident [9].
Investigators are currently seeking to determine how a weapon entered the cockpit [6]. Netanyahu has vowed to get to the root of the attack while the UAE launched its own probe on October 1 [3].
References · 10
- [1]apnews.com — A terrifying timeline of FlyDubai as passengers gain control ...
- [2]cbc.ca — U.A.E. announces investigation into FlyDubai stabbing
- [3]reuters.com — Israel's Netanyahu: Co-pilot of flydubai plane underwent radical ...
- [4]lokmattimes.com — UAE orders probe into Flydubai cockpit stabbing incident on Israel ...
- [5]timesofindia.indiatimes.com — Was Iran behind the flydubai flight incident? Netanyahu answers
- [6]nytimes.com — Investigators Seek to Determine How a Weapon Entered FlyDubai Cockpit
- [8]nytimes.com — FlyDubai Flight to Israel Diverted After Clash Between Pilots ...
- [9]reuters.com — Passengers foil bid to crash Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, Israel says, after ...
- [11]jpost.com — Flydubai temporarily suspends flights to Tel Aviv to as investigation ...
- [12]iranintl.com — Mossad, Shin Bet probing possible Iranian role in Flydubai incident ...
Timeline
newest firstWhen we started following: Netanyahu says 'too early' to link Iran to FlyDubai stabbing as UAE and Israel launch investigations
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Wednesday it is "too early to say" if Iran was involved in the September 30 stabbing of a FlyDubai pilot by his co-pilot [5]. The Boeing 737 Max 8, traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after passengers and crew intervened to stop a precipitous loss of altitude [1], [6]. The UAE prosecutor general ordered an investigation Thursday to determine if the incident involved terrorist activity, prior planning, or direction [2], [4]. While Netanyahu noted "signs" of planned attacks by Iranian proxies Hamas and Hezbollah ahead of Israel's October 27 elections, he stated he does not yet know if this incident was part of such a plan [5]. The co-pilot, an Omani national, is currently in Saudi custody [6]. The official Israeli position that it is "too early" to determine Iranian involvement leaves the question of attribution to Iran or its proxies by October 31 unsettled.