Signs Emerge of an Attempt to Crash an Israel-Bound Passenger Plane: Colleague Says, "Co-Pilot Was a Religious Extremist"

[Financial News] A fellow pilot said that the Omani pilot suspected of attempting to crash a flydubai passenger plane bound for Israel had displayed signs of religious extremism.
According to The Times of Israel (TOI) and other outlets on the 30th of last month (local time), a flydubai pilot told Israel's Channel 16 News that the Omani pilot had joined flydubai only eight months earlier.
The pilot described the suspect as a religious extremist and said, "He prayed excessively often throughout the day and refused to shake hands with women."
U.S. President Donald Trump also said of the suspect, "It appears he might have been a terrorist, or he might have been mentally ill."
Trump told reporters in the White House Oval Office that he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the incident. He said, "I don't know whether it's true, but that's what I heard from Bibi, Netanyahu's nickname, and a couple of others."
He added, "They said the pilot tried to crash the plane, but they do not have information sufficient to confirm that he actually intended to do so."
Earlier that day, flydubai Flight 1073, which was traveling from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Tel Aviv, Israel, was forced to make an emergency landing after a physical altercation between the pilots. After an emergency signal was detected, Israel scrambled fighter jets in response to the possibility of a hijacking.
Although the specific circumstances of the dispute have not yet been confirmed, the co-pilot was reportedly attempting to crash the plane after stabbing the captain with a knife. However, passengers and crew members thwarted the attempt, and the plane turned back to Saudi Arabia and landed safely.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, said the co-pilot was an Omani national and had been arrested by Saudi authorities and questioned immediately after landing.


[email protected] Lee Seok-woo, International Affairs Reporter Reporter