Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has raised concerns over pilot screening procedures following an incident involving a flydubai flight co-pilot who allegedly attacked the captain. Netanyahu stated that the co-pilot, from Oman, may have undergone Islamist radicalization and highlighted potential gaps in the screening processes for pilots flying to Israel.
The incident occurred on flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 passengers. The co-pilot reportedly attacked the captain, causing the aircraft to lose significant altitude before the captain regained control. Passengers managed to restrain the co-pilot, and another pilot subsequently took over the aircraft.
Netanyahu mentioned that the preliminary investigation suggested the co-pilot had been subject to “radical indoctrination” and had expressed a desire to die. He pointed out that this incident reveals a potential weakness in the vetting procedures for pilots from countries without diplomatic ties to Israel. While background checks on pilots for certain flights had been conducted previously, Netanyahu indicated that the screening process would undergo review following this event.
The Israeli prime minister also noted that investigators are looking into any possible connections between the co-pilot and Iran but emphasized that it is too early to draw definitive conclusions. Authorities expect to gather more information in the coming days as the investigation continues.