Flydubai attacker 'underwent Islamist radical indoctrination', Netanyahu says - BBC News                            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crje8edqyej9o)  (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crje8edqyej9o)  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crje8edqyej9o)  (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crje8edqyej9o)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-36.413a37b227.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-48.010dc96bcf.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-57.1fcd0dc805.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-60.52f68a148f.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-72.f155fdb25f.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-76.cb5ee392d4.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-96.35ee2d1e20.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-114.7ccdf53cba.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-120.73e20442a9.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-128.060d346f09.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-144.e08bc23631.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-152.4de1981be0.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-180.1a18cb7b72.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-192.3ac042fa43.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-384.728e3a03d3.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/touch/news/touch-icon-512.685da29e9e.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/favicon/news/favicon-16.8a240ceacc.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/website/assets/static/icons/favicon/news/favicon-32.5cf4e6db02.png)  (../../../static.files.bbci.co.uk/core/manifest.11b0cb15658c4719a2c19e25644577223adaa7b2.json)   (https://www.bbc.com)   BBC Homepage    (crje8edqyej9o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#main-heading) Skip to content  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/) Accessibility Help          (https://account.bbc.com/account?lang=en-GB&ptrt=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Farticles%2Fcrje8edqyej9o)    Your account       (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (crje8edqyej9o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#global-navigation-more-menu)    More menu     (crje8edqyej9o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#global-navigation-more-menu)   More menu    (https://www.bbc.com/search?d=NEWS_GNL)    Search BBC      (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (crje8edqyej9o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#more-menu-button)   Close menu          (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news)   BBC News      (crje8edqyej9o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#product-navigation-menu)    Menu  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news) Home   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cmj34zmwm1zt) Climate   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world) World   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/us_and_canada) US & Canada   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk) UK   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business) Business   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology) Tech   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science_and_environment) Science   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment_and_arts) Entertainment & Arts   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health) Health     (crje8edqyej9o@at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss.html#product-navigation-more-menu)    More     (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in_pictures) In Pictures   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/bbcverify) BBC Verify   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat) Newsbeat         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world) World   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/africa) Africa   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/asia) Asia   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/australia) Australia   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/europe) Europe   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/latin_america) Latin America   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/middle_east) Middle East           Netanyahu says Flydubai attacker had 'Islamist radical indoctrination'      (Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at an event in East Jerusalem.)    Image source,  AFP via Getty Images      By Olivia Ireland     Published 1 October 2026           Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says investigations suggest the man who stabbed his fellow pilot and tried to take over a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv had undergone "Islamist radical indoctrination".  The Flydubai plane plunged more than 17,000ft (5,200m) two hours into its journey on Wednesday, before passengers and crew overpowered the attacker and retook control to land safely. Netanyahu told Fox News that it was looking "very likely" that the attacker, who he said was an Omani national, "was going to down the plane". Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) state news agency reports investigations have begun there to determine "whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity or purpose". The Interior Ministry of Saudi Arabia - where the plane made an emergency landing - said that both the pilot and co-pilot had been sent back to the UAE on Thursday morning after medical teams had cleared them. UAE officials earlier claimed jurisdiction over the incident because the aircraft on which the attack took place is registered there and flies under its flag. Netanyahu told Fox that once the attacker had been subdued and tied up by passengers and crew, he was "calling out to the aircrew 'kill me, kill me', so it's clear he was suicidal - that's not a question".          To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played       Figure caption,  Passenger Almog Itali said it felt like a "rollercoaster" as Flight FZ1073 fell 17,000ft in less than two minutes       "And with all the passengers in there, and if you couple that with what I just told you about the Islamist tendencies, that radicalisation that were found in his background, I think... that'll give us a pretty good clue." However, he stressed that he did not want to draw any firm conclusions as to motive yet. Both US President Donald Trump and UAE officials have indicated to the media that Iran may be responsible for the incident, without definitively blaming Tehran. Trump told reporters on Thursday that Iran would be "hit very hard" if it was deemed to have been involved in the attack. Pilots from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel were usually not allowed to fly there, Netanyahu said when asked about how the suspected Omani pilot came to be on the plane. He added: "Obviously there was a loophole here and we're taking care of that among other things... with the full co-operation, I have to say, of the Emirati government, so we're both interested in making sure this doesn't happen again."  Oman has (https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk/product/b0005omn) not formally established official ties with Israel , unlike the UAE. The prime minister was also asked earlier on the same network whether there was an indication if Iran was involved, he replied: "It's too early to say".     (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6d949ydnw3po) Flydubai passenger describes hugging his children as plane nosedived during attack       Published 11 hours ago         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cje3r3z7g0zzo) Who is the 'hero' Indian pilot who was stabbed on Israel-bound flight?       Published 10 hours ago             Both Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the stabbed pilot, Indian national Capt Smit Machchhar was a "hero".  India's ambassador to the UAE Deepak Mittal visited Captain Machhar in hospital on Thursday, the Indian Mission confirmed on social media, stating he was "in good health and recovering well".       (Indian pilot Smit Machchhar seen smiling into a camera as he sits in the cockpit of a plane. He is wearing glasses, a white shirt and has a pen tucked in his shirt pocket.)    Image source,  Embassy of India in Israel  Image caption,  The Indian government has praised Smit Machchhar for his "immense courage"       Preliminary findings from a separate Israeli investigation into the incident, suggest that the alleged attacker intended to crash the plane, an Israeli security source told BBC Arabic. The source said the investigation - led by Israel's intelligence agency Mossad - interviewed passengers after they arrived in Tel Aviv to establish what had happened on the plane. Flydubai's flight FZ1073, with more than 170 people on board, took off from Dubai International Airport in the UAE at 03:05 GMT (07:05 local time), en route to Ben Gurion Airport. Two hours later, the 17,000ft drop in altitude was reported on the plane tracking website Flightradar24 and minutes later the plane signalled an emergency code.      (Map showing the route of Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The plane departed Dubai at 03:05 GMT and flew northwest across Saudi Arabia towards Israel. Near the Israel-Jordan border, the aircraft declared a general emergency at 05:31 and a hijacking alert at 05:38 before turning away from Tel Aviv. The flight diverted south and landed at Tabuk Airport in north-west Saudi Arabia at 06:58.)         At about 05:40, the plane - which had briefly entered Jordanian airspace - looped back into Saudi Arabia, where it later started its manual descent, landing safely at  Tabuk Airport in the north west of Saudi. Flydubai has since suspended flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv as it carried out its own investigation into the incident. Israel's Transportation Ministry said the suspension aligns with Netanyahu's directive. Israeli airlines including El Al, Israir and Arkia said plans were in place to operate rescue flights from Dubai starting on Friday to bring back stranded passengers.  The Transportation Ministry also said it sent an urgent request to Etihad Airlines to increase the number of flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.     Related topics  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c302m85q5ljt) Israel  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/crz4004j5zet) Air travel  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c2n5vpdv320t) Aviation accidents and incidents  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cq23pdgvgyxt) Benjamin Netanyahu  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cwlw3xz0zl4t) Saudi Arabia           (vertical video collection) The video playlist   Watch our pick of standout clips from across the BBC      Previous     Next         1:45 Pilot hailed as a hero after Flydubai flight attack. 00:01:45, play video Pilot hailed as a hero after Flydubai flight attack    (A man with short dark hair and a short beard wearing glasses and a white shirt smiles at the camera)           0:54 Dog rescued from squalid conditions finds new home. 00:00:54, play video Dog rescued from squalid conditions finds new home    (A number of brown and white spaniel dogs in 'squalid' conditions in a home.)           1:05 Prison conditions are 'awful', says released man. 00:01:05, play video Prison conditions are 'awful', says released man    (A former prisoner in a grey sweatshirt and glasses)           0:55 Rollercoaster closed after over 100 allege brain injuries. 00:00:55, play video Rollercoaster closed after over 100 allege brain injuries    (A black, high and windy rollercoaster, X2, which has now been closed down)           1:15 What we know about Christa Pike's failed execution. 00:01:15, play video What we know about Christa Pike's failed execution    (Christa Pike has long auburn hair. She is standing in front of a height chart and holding up a sign with an identifying number.)           1:12 Why has Ronaldo walked out of Portugal camp? 00:01:12, play video Why has Ronaldo walked out of Portugal camp?    (Cristiano Ronaldo staring into the distance. He is wearing a red Portugal top.)           0:54 New 'R' plates for recently qualified drivers in NI. 00:00:54, play video New 'R' plates for recently qualified drivers in NI    (New blue R plate on grey car)           0:59 What makes you socially anxious? 00:00:59, play video What makes you socially anxious?    (A young woman with nose piercings, blue jeans, and a black top speaking into a BBC branded microphone, looking like she's in conversation)           0:38 AJ reassures fans that Fury fight will happen... 00:00:38, play video AJ reassures fans that Fury fight will happen...    (Anthony Joshua)           1:01 Which prisoners are being released in new scheme and when? 00:01:01, play video Which prisoners are being released in new scheme and when?    (An overhead view of HMP Doncaster aerial photo of walls and barbed wire)           0:44 Harry and Meghan criticise photographer near kids' school. 00:00:44, play video Harry and Meghan criticise photographer near kids' school    (Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stood side by side, both looking away from the camera.)           1:06 What tactics have the cast got to play The Celebrity Traitors? 00:01:06, play video What tactics have the cast got to play The Celebrity Traitors?    (Leigh-Anne Pinnock has long dark curly hair and is wearing a multi-coloured blazer, holding a microphone.)           1:21 How Dame Esther Rantzen set up Childline. 00:01:21, play video How Dame Esther Rantzen set up Childline    (A black and white photo of Rantzen smiling wearing a Childline sweater, surrounded by balloons)           1:18 How empty chairs are helping people's mental health. 00:01:18, play video How empty chairs are helping people's mental health    (Two men taking a selfie outdoors)           0:31 The Celebrity Traitors: Rewatch Celia Imrie's nervous fart. 00:00:31, play video The Celebrity Traitors: Rewatch Celia Imrie's nervous fart    (Celia Imrie trying not to laugh.)           0:42 Orionid meteor shower set to light up UK sky. 00:00:42, play video Orionid meteor shower set to light up UK sky    (Silhouette of a bare trees with a meteor shower in the night sky behind them.)           1:39 Britain's three original drinking spots. 00:01:39, play video Britain's three original drinking spots    (Close up of a pint of ale on a wooden table, with a roaring fireplace in the background.)           0:49 How the celebs are planning to play The Celebrity Traitors. 00:00:49, play video How the celebs are planning to play The Celebrity Traitors    (YouTuber and boxer King Kenny wearing a suit speaking into a microphone.)               Top stories (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmdx5xw36492o) UK-Iranian dual national arrested over RAF Fairford incident, police say     Published 56 minutes ago            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6eq84eygz0qo) Crypto thieves attack man in home and threaten to kill pregnant wife's baby in 'horrific' robbery     Published 1 hour ago            (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5zjzjgdeneeo) US says Europe should ready fuel supplies as Trump threatens diesel ban     Published 2 hours ago                More to explore (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5kg0gwwpyx8o) Chris Mason: Why Andy Burnham's about-turn on Manchester City matters      (Andy Burnham looks pensive while sitting down with a red background.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck1l6zvr9gdgo) What's really going on in lymphatic drainage beauty videos?      (A head and shoulders photo of Abbey Alexandra with long dark curly hair facing the camera wearing a white vest top with her fingertips touching her collarbones)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cwd080ryxd42o)    Watch: Celebrity Traitors series two kicks off with a wild curveball. Video Watch: Celebrity Traitors series two kicks off with a wild curveball           (Composite of a female correspondent next to a still of Richard E Grant from the series)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c68xk0ndqz8jo) 'It could cost me £10k but I need the money now': Why Gen Z are opting out of pensions      (Dr Hassan Nassar)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c65ymyxlel34o) The Papers: 'Laughing criminals let loose' and 'Return to the castle'      (The headline on the front page of the Metro reads: “Get out of jail free day”. The headline on the front page of the Guardian reads: “Welfare changes may axe disability benefit for young”.)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm8e3e5k2010o) Weekly quiz: How did two champions fight over marathon dates for next year's London races?      (Close-up of London Marathon medal being held by a smiling woman)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6vgyg824m02o) Spain and China are cosying up - to the anger of many in the EU      (A composite image of a Chinese dragon's head and the Sagrada Familia)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm89j9024k7po) Chaos, coffins and 'Claudiapatra' steal the show in Celebrity Traitors      (Claudia Winkleman emerging from a coffin)         (https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsletters/zgmn46f) US Politics Unspun: Cut through the noise with Anthony Zurcher's newsletter      (A cut of of Anthony Zurcher wearing a suit and tie in front of a red, black, grey and blue graphic background featuring the US Capitol Building)             Elsewhere on the BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002csng?at_mid=McRh1JCLkb&at_campaign=The_Celebrity_Traitors_TLEO&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=m002csng&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=The_Celebrity_Traitors_TLEO&at_bbc_team=BBC) You know their names, but you don't know their game        (The Celebrity Traitors)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0lmbbrz?at_mid=ljeCYGhtKm&at_campaign=Proper_Manc_Mad_For_Oasis&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=sounds&at_brand=p0jm15sp&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Proper_Manc_Mad_For_Oasis&at_bbc_team=BBC) Anaïs Gallagher explores Oasis' legacy        (Mad for Oasis)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002z84p?at_mid=pSySfMlC18&at_campaign=Ludwig_S2_E1&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=m0022wvz&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=Ludwig_S2_E1&at_bbc_team=BBC) Puzzle lovers: All episodes of Ludwig are available now on iPlayer        (Ludwig S2)        (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct8k7g?at_mid=BvJJeKKSxy&at_campaign=CrowdScience_How_many_dead_people_are_on_the_internet&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign_type=owned&at_nation=NET&at_audience_id=SS&at_product=sounds&at_brand=p04d42rc&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_ptr_type=media&at_format=image&at_objective=consumption&at_link_title=CrowdScience_How_many_dead_people_are_on_the_internet&at_bbc_team=BBC) How many dead people are on the internet?        (CrowdScience)            Most read 1 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6eq84eygz0qo) Crypto thieves attack man in home and threaten to kill pregnant wife's baby in 'horrific' robbery       2 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmn4540d4z87o) Christa Pike in critical condition after surviving two lethal injections, lawyer says       3 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5zjzjgdeneeo) US says Europe should ready fuel supplies as Trump threatens diesel ban       4 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5kg0gwwpyx8o) Chris Mason: Why Andy Burnham's about-turn on Manchester City matters       5 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c65ymyxlel34o) 'Laughing criminals let loose' and 'Return to the castle'        6 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqg7k7v499jjo) Putin warns West that Russia is ready to use every weapon to protect Kaliningrad       7 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmdx5xw36492o) UK-Iranian dual national arrested over RAF Fairford incident, police say       8 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6vgyg824m02o) Spain and China are cosying up - to the anger of many in the EU       9 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm89j9024k7po) Chaos, coffins and 'Claudiapatra' steal the show in Celebrity Traitors       10 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck1l6zvr9gdgo) What's really going on in lymphatic drainage beauty videos?               BBC News Services  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628994)    On your mobile  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/help-50068132)    On smart speakers  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10628323)    Get news alerts  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/20039682)    Contact BBC News     (https://www.bbc.com) Home  (https://www.bbc.com/news) News  (https://www.bbc.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.bbc.com/future/earth) Earth  (https://www.bbc.com/reel) Reel  (https://www.bbc.com/worklife) Worklife  (https://www.bbc.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.bbc.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.bbc.com/future) Future  (https://www.bbc.com/culture/music) Music  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl9m) TV  (https://www.bbc.com/weather) Weather  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds) Sounds   (https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/terms) Terms of Use  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc) About the BBC  (https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/privacy) Privacy Policy  (https://www.bbc.com/usingthebbc/cookies) Cookies  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility) Accessibility Help  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/guidance) Parental Guidance  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact) Contact the BBC  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/careers) Careers  (https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcnewsletter) BBC emails for you  (https://www.bbc.com/advertisingcontact/) Advertise with us    Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/guidance/links-and-feeds) Read about our approach to external linking.         ()