UAE Official Calls Flydubai Incident a Terrorist Act

A senior official from the United Arab Emirates has for the first time publicly referred to the attempted crash of a Flydubai passenger plane as a “terrorist act.” This statement comes as Israel looks into whether the Omani co-pilot allegedly responsible was acting under the direction of another entity.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the co-pilot had previously been barred from flying in Oman due to radical ideological views, as reported by sources familiar with the situation. Despite this prohibition, he was later employed by Flydubai and allowed to operate flights between the UAE and Israel.

It remains unclear whether Oman communicated its concerns about the co-pilot to other nations or airlines. Additionally, the specifics surrounding his radicalization have not been disclosed. Neither Flydubai nor the Omani government provided comments regarding these issues.

A spokesperson for the UAE refrained from discussing the co-pilot’s past in Oman, cautioning that doing so might interfere with or prejudge the current investigation.

The situation unfolded after Anwar Gargash, a high-ranking diplomatic adviser to President Mohammed bin Zayed, publicly labeled the attack as terrorism. He offered praise for Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who was attacked while flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

“The Flydubai pilot deserves full appreciation,” Gargash noted on social media. “Faced with a dangerous terrorist act and a potential disaster, he displayed remarkable courage and responsibility.”

In his remarks, Gargash became the first senior Emirati official to characterize the incident as terrorism, reflecting a more definitive public stance just a day after authorities began investigating potential links to terrorist activities or underlying motivations.

However, he advised against jumping to conclusions or promoting conspiracy theories, emphasizing the importance of vigilance in confronting extremism.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday that an investigation is underway to ascertain whether the Omani co-pilot acted as a “sent” agent, though he did not specify who might have directed him, if anyone.

“As we gather more information, the situation will become clearer,” Netanyahu remarked, referring to the passengers who intervened during the incident. “Their actions likely prevented another tragedy.”

Netanyahu stated that the co-pilot exhibited “Islamist radicalization” and intended to crash the plane along with those on board, yet he affirmed that authorities have yet to confirm if he acted on someone else’s orders.

The investigation into the matter moved to the UAE after the Omani co-pilot was transferred from Saudi Arabia following his detention. Reports indicate that Israeli officials plan to interrogate him in collaboration with Emirati authorities.

The goal of the UAE investigation is to clarify the events surrounding the attack and determine any possible connections to terrorist activities or prior planning.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of Flydubai, addressed the situation for the first time, referring to it as a “safety incident” and confirming the airline’s cooperation with the ongoing investigation.

“It is crucial to allow the investigation to establish the facts,” Al Ghaith mentioned, acknowledging that many questions remain about the events aboard Flight FZ1073.

The incident escalated when the Omani co-pilot attacked Machchhar in the cockpit, seizing control of the aircraft with 174 individuals on board. The plane descended rapidly before passengers rushed to assist, ultimately managing to overpower the co-pilot. A reserve pilot then took control and successfully landed in Tabuk.

Machchhar, speaking from a hospital in the UAE, recounted feeling the plane in freefall as he lay injured. “I tried to crawl, I opened the door, and everything else happened immediately after that,” he said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended Machchhar’s bravery, noting that his quick actions saved lives. An emotional Machchhar expressed admiration for Modi, remarking that he never expected to communicate with him.

As of now, the co-pilot’s identity remains undisclosed, and neither Emirati nor Israeli authorities have confirmed that he acted on someone else’s instructions. The UAE-led investigation into the potential premeditated nature of the incident continues.