Netanyahu says flight attacker 'underwent Islamist radical indoctrination'

What the report says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said investigators believe the man accused of stabbing a pilot aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv had been exposed to Islamist radicalisation and appears to have intended to bring down the aircraft. Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu said the attacker, described in the report as an Omani national, seemed likely to have tried to crash the plane, though he stressed that final conclusions had not been reached.

According to BBC World News, the incident happened on Wednesday about two hours into the journey, when Flight FZ1073 dropped more than 17,000ft before passengers and crew restrained the attacker and regained control. The aircraft, carrying more than 170 people, then made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The injured co-pilot, Indian national Capt Smit Machchhar, has been praised by both Netanyahu and India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, and was reported by India’s mission in the UAE to be recovering well.

UAE authorities have opened their own investigation into whether the episode was linked to terrorism, while Saudi officials are questioning the suspect. BBC World News reported that UAE officials say they have jurisdiction because the aircraft is registered there. Flydubai has suspended its Dubai-Tel Aviv service while inquiries continue, and Israeli airlines are arranging rescue flights for stranded passengers. The case has raised security concerns over flights using the route and the handling of a suspected onboard attack.