Netanyahu Warns Of ‘Heavy Price’ After Flydubai Incident; Omani Pilots’ Israel Entry Under Scanner

Days after a foiled attempt to allegedly crash a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday warned that Israel would impose a “very heavy price” on whoever may have been behind the incident.

The alleged attack involved the co-pilot of flydubai Flight FZ1073, who was reportedly an Omani national. Israeli authorities are investigating how the pilot was able to operate a flight to Tel Aviv despite reported restrictions concerning crew members from countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel.

Netanyahu Issues ‘Very Heavy Price’ Warning

Netanyahu said the investigation was increasingly pointing towards Islamist radicalisation.

“As time passes, the picture is becoming clearer: The attacker underwent Islamist radicalisation. He came to crash the plane with all passengers on board,” Netanyahu said.

“We are investigating whether he was sent, and whoever sent him will pay a very heavy price,” he added, referring to the co-pilot.

In an interview with Fox & Friends on Thursday, Netanyahu said the co-pilot had apparently passed through a “loophole” in rules that prohibit pilots from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel from flying aircraft into the country.

Israel and Oman do not have formal diplomatic relations. Netanyahu has previously said pilots from countries without diplomatic ties to Israel were not permitted to operate flights to the country. How the Omani co-pilot was assigned to the Tel Aviv-bound flight is now a key focus of the investigation.

Abraham Accords And Aviation Agreement

The UAE and Israel established diplomatic relations in 2020 under the US-brokered Abraham Accords. The two countries subsequently signed an air services agreement providing a framework for commercial aviation between them.

According to the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, the agreement permitted UAE airlines to operate up to 28 passenger flights per week to Tel Aviv, along with unlimited flights to Eilat and cargo services. It also placed no restrictions on unscheduled flights between the UAE and Israel.

Flydubai became the first UAE airline to launch direct flights between the UAE and Israel. The carrier initially operated two daily flights on the route and has since increased the frequency to as many as 10 flights a day, according to The New York Times.

Flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv pass through Saudi Arabian airspace. Saudi Arabia, which also does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, permitted flights travelling between the UAE and Israel to use its airspace in September 2020.

Does The Aviation Agreement Restrict Pilot Nationality?

The official 2020 UAE General Civil Aviation Authority air services agreement does not explicitly state that pilots operating flights to Israel must hold passports from countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.

The reported nationality restriction has been cited by Israeli officials and media reports following the flydubai incident, raising questions over whether there was a regulatory loophole or a separate mechanism that allowed the Omani co-pilot to operate the flight.

Israel May Question Accused Co-Pilot

Israeli officials are expected to question the co-pilot involved in the incident, Reuters reported, citing sources.

Netanyahu has identified the co-pilot as being from Oman and has also previously raised the possibility that he could have been experiencing mental health problems, although the circumstances remain under investigation.

The incident occurred on September 30 aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 people on board.

According to Israeli officials and witnesses, the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, before attempting to take control of the aircraft. The captain reportedly managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to enter and overpower the attacker.

The aircraft subsequently made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. No major casualties were reported.

The incident has prompted investigations into the alleged attack, the co-pilot’s background and radicalisation, and how an Omani national was cleared to serve as crew on a flight bound for Israel.