Hijacking attempt thwarted

Motive behind hijacking attempt unclear: "Nothing ruled out"

The motive behind the suspected hijacking attempt aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv remains unknown. The Omani co-pilot is in custody in Saudi Arabia, where several countries are participating in the investigation, the AP reports.

"All possible scenarios, from terrorism to mental illness, are being investigated. Nothing is being ruled out at this stage," a source told the news agency.

Israeli security and intelligence officials are participating in the investigation. The United Arab Emirates, the US, and Oman are also involved. 

Israeli President to present awards for heroism to passengers who took action

Five Israeli passengers who helped overpower the co-pilot who attacked pilot Smit Machchhar are to receive awards for heroism. Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced this following the averted incident.

"You put yourselves at risk to save others and prevented a terrible catastrophe," he said in a statement, according to AFP.

Among those set to receive awards is plumber Yaniv Hayoun, who reportedly knocked down and restrained the co-pilot who was attempting to crash the plane.

Herzog also commends the pilot who, according to Israeli authorities, managed to open the cockpit door after being attacked. 

Analysis: The hijacking attempt is already being used as political ammunition in Israel’s election debate

Israel quickly determined that yesterday’s incident on the FlyDubai flight was an attempted terrorist attack, even though the co-pilot's motives remain unclear. Regardless, the event has already become part of the Israeli election campaign, according to analyses by Sky News and *Dagens Nyheter* (DN).

The evening before the incident, Netanyahu stated that a "major terror threat" loomed ahead of the election. DN’s Emma Bouvin writes that Netanyahu’s camp will point to the FlyDubai incident and say, "We told you so." His opponents, meanwhile, will refer to the criticism regarding the Israeli government’s failure to foresee the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023, and ask, "How could you miss this, too?" she writes.

There is a possibility, Bouvin notes, that the suspected co-pilot’s motives were entirely unrelated to terrorism or jihadism.

"However, in the Israeli election campaign, it is already an accepted premise that the threats facing Israel are greater than ever—and that the public must choose a government capable of handling them."

Writing for Sky News, Adam Parsons points out that Netanyahu was quick to associate himself with the passengers who subdued the perpetrator.

He will seize upon the incident as proof that Israel remains a nation under threat—something that could benefit him in the election, given that security is one of the country's key election issues, Parsons says.

"The image of Netanyahu embracing a blood-spattered hero is one he wants every eligible Israeli voter to see."