Netanyahu says flydubai co-pilot indoctrinated as UAE probes ‘terror’ link

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot behind an apparent attack on a flight to Israel had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination” as the United Arab Emirates said it was probing a possible terror link.

The dramatic events yesterday saw passengers reroute the flydubai plane to stop it from crashing, making an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia before the flight’s mostly Israeli passengers were flown home to a hero’s welcome.

“We know that he underwent Islamist radical indoctrination,” Netanyahu told the Fox & Friends TV show without elaborating, adding that the co-pilot, reportedly an Omani national, was being interrogated.

The Israeli premier said “the attacker, he calls out to the aircrew, ‘Kill me, kill me,’” making it “clear he was suicidal”.

His comments about the alleged attacker, who the captain and passengers managed to overpower, came as the UAE chief prosecutor announced an investigation had been launched, including the possibility of “terrorist activity or intent”.