Israeli PM Netanyahu alleges radical indoctrination of flydubai co-pilot

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed the co-pilot involved in the flydubai mid-air stabbing incident underwent "Islamist radical indoctrination".

The leader's claim comes as the United Arab Emirates launched its own investigation into the incident, and whether there were links to militant activity.

Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai was scheduled ​to land in ‌Tel Aviv, but was diverted and landed in Saudi Arabia after ‌an altercation in ⁠the cockpit, the United Arab Emirates news agency reported ​on ‌Wednesday, local time.

Mr Netanyahu has said in a Fox News interview that the co-pilot "underwent Islamist radical indoctrination".

He also told "Fox & Friends" he would be able to say win a matter of days whether flydubai co-pilot had connections to Iran.

"I think it's too early to say whether he had any connections with Iran or with any anyone else," he said.

Mr Netanyahu also claimed it was clear that the co-pilot was suicidal.

"If you couple that with the what I just told you about the Islamist tendencies, that radicalisation that are found in his background, I think that's - that'll give us the a pretty good clue," he said.

"But again, I don't make final conclusions yet. But that's the indications we have now."

The UAE chief prosecutor said on Thursday local time, an investigation had been launched including the possibility of "terrorist activity or intent".

The state news agency WAM said the attorney general had ordered the probe, adding that "the investigation team has launched its work into the incident" that forced the plane to land in Saudi Arabia.

It also said the investigation would determine "the degree to which (the incident) was linked to any terrorist activity or intent".

UAE ‌judicial authorities have ‌jurisdiction over the incident because ‌the aircraft is registered in the ‌UAE ​and ⁠flies under its flag, the statement said, adding that UAE law applies to crimes ⁠committed on board "even if they occur ‌outside ‌the country's territory".