Rami Igra, the former head of Mossad’s MIA unit, told NDTV that a flydubai co‑pilot from Oman stabbed the captain on the Dubai‑Tel Aviv flight on 30 September, forcing the aircraft to divert to Saudi Arabia.
Igra said investigators found leaflets praising the Palestinian cause in the suspect’s luggage, but concrete evidence linking him to a terror group remains unverified. The co‑pilot, held in Saudi custody, is expected to be sent to the UAE where Israel will seek extradition, as the two countries maintain formal diplomatic ties.
Igra described the attack as a lone‑wolf operation driven by radical Islamic interpretation, dismissing claims that Iran orchestrated the incident. He compared the incident to the 9/11 hijackings, warning that the assailant may have intended to target a major Israeli site.
The incident has raised alarms about potential copycat attacks, prompting Israeli officials to call for tighter crew security worldwide. Netanyahu has echoed concerns that the assailant aimed to carry out a suicide bombing.
Saudi authorities have kept the suspect in custody while Israel finalizes extradition paperwork. The case will be heard in the UAE court next month, after which the suspect could face life imprisonment or the death penalty.