0
A flydubai aircraft that took off with passengers from Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, sits on the runway at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, on the 30th (local time). / EPA, Yonhap

A colleague testified that an Omani co-pilot accused of attempting to crash a flydubai passenger plane carrying around 180 people had exhibited signs of religious extremism.

According to The Times of Israel (TOI), a flydubai pilot told Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 News on the 30th (local time) that the suspect joined the airline eight months ago, stating, "He prayed excessively throughout the day and refused to shake hands with women."

Chaos erupted earlier that day aboard a flydubai Boeing 737 MAX en route to Tel Aviv, Israel, after taking off from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), when the co-pilot stabbed the Indian captain in the cockpit and put the aircraft into a steep dive.

Three passengers and crew members broke through the cockpit door to subdue the co-pilot, while two off-duty pilots traveling as passengers took the controls to execute an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

The captain, who sustained stab wounds, was hospitalized in critical condition alongside the co-pilot in Saudi Arabia. The majority of the roughly 180 people on board were reported to be Israeli nationals.

The passengers were safely flown to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, later that day aboard a flydubai replacement flight from Saudi Arabia.

Saudi authorities are interrogating the co-pilot to determine the exact circumstances and potential backing behind the crime, while Israeli authorities stated they are conducting a situational assessment, viewing the incident as a lone-actor attempt to crash the plane in a suicide attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz characterized the incident as an attempted terrorist attack by a jihadist.

In a video statement, Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "We remain in constant contact with the authorities to ensure the ongoing safety and safe return of the passengers."

                                                                                                             Kim Hyun-min