Netanyahu says Omani co-pilot 'underwent Islamist radical indoctrination' on suicidal mission to DESTROY the plane
From the Newshound archive · first published 30 September 2026 · last updated 1 October 2026.
Benjamin Netanyahu and Yaniv Hayun, who helped restrain an attacker on a Flydubai flight after passengers reportedly heard screams from the cockpit.A passenger on the Flydubai flight has said those aboard tied the attacker up after hearing screams from the cockpit, according to Captain Smit Machchhar's mother.The attacker on the Flydubai flight was restrained by passengers using a belt, Captain Smit Machchhar's mother told reporters.Scenes from flight FZ1073, where passengers reportedly heard screams from the cockpit before acting to subdue the attacker onboard.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared the Omani co-pilot who stabbed his Indian captain on a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flydubai flight was a radical Islamist on a suicide mission to kill all 174 people on board. Netanyahu told Fox News the attacker "underwent Islamist radical indoctrination" before the assault, and after being subdued and tied up with a headphone cord, began screaming "kill me, kill me." The UAE has launched a formal investigation, with Israel set to participate, while the co-pilot — questioned in Saudi Arabia — is expected to be transferred to UAE custody.
A colleague of the unnamed Omani co-pilot reportedly said flydubai had unknowingly 'hired a terrorist' who refused to shake women's hands and prayed obsessively.
Netanyahu said it is too early to confirm Iranian involvement, but told CNN: 'We know that Iran is sponsoring a lot of this' — and claimed Iran stood behind an attack in Britain.
Ed Miliband drew sharp rebukes from Israeli officials and Reform UK's Nadhim Zahawi after calling the jihadist attack an 'incident', with Zahawi demanding: 'Why is it so difficult to name and condemn Islamist terrorism?'
