Israel orders safety review after FlyDubai co‑pilot plot
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called for a safety review of international flights to Israel following a FlyDubai co‑pilot’s attempt to down a plane, which landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
Safety review ordered
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ordered a safety review of international flights to Israel after the incident involving a FlyDubai co‑pilot.
Flight details
The aircraft carried 174 people, including 166 Israelis, and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The UAE government shared a list of passengers and crew with Israel before the flight. Preliminary details indicated that the co‑pilot’s background had not been checked.
Investigation demands
Opposition lawmakers demanded that the Attorney General open an investigation into the incident.
Co‑pilot plot
Israeli authorities said the suspect intended to down the plane in Israel and had flown to Tel‑Aviv several times in recent months for reconnaissance. Hamam al‑Hammami, the co‑pilot, planned to shoot down the aircraft at Ben Gurion airport in July but withdrew at the last moment because a friend was on the crew.