‘Any country behind FlyDubai attempted plane hijacking will pay a very heavy price’ - Netanyahu warns

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel would impose a "very heavy price" on any foreign state or entity involved in the recent flydubai in-flight attack, though he stopped short of providing explicit evidence implicating a specific country.

Netanyahu addressed the nation following the emergency landing of a Tel Aviv-bound flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 in Saudi Arabia, stating:

“As time passes, the picture is becoming clearer: The attacker underwent Islamist radicalisation. He came to crash the plane with all passengers on board. We are investigating whether he was sent, and whoever sent him will pay a very heavy price.”  

While Israeli officials noted the co-pilot involved was an Omani national, regional intelligence and political figures including U.S. President Donald Trump have publicly pointed toward potential Iranian ties. 

Trump stated that he was "hearing" of potential Iranian involvement and warned Tehran would be hit "very hard" if complicity is established.  

The mid-air crisis occurred when the Omani co-pilot stabbed the aircraft's Indian captain in an attempt to crash the flight. 

The wounded captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and off-duty crew members to intervene, subdue the assailant, and safely land the aircraft at an airfield in Saudi Arabia with no passenger fatalities. Authorities from Israel, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the United States continue to conduct a joint investigation into the incident.