Netanyahu vows severe response over Flydubai plane attack

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Friday that any party found responsible for the Flydubai plane incident would "pay a very heavy price," as authorities continue to investigate the motives of the co-pilot who attacked the captain in the cockpit and whether he acted alone or was sent to carry out the attack.

Netanyahu said the investigation leaves open the possibility that someone was behind the attacker, adding: "We are investigating whether he was sent, and whoever sent him will pay a very heavy price." He continued: "As time passes, the picture becomes clearer: the attacker underwent a process of radicalization and came to destroy the plane and everyone on board."

The motives for the attack and the identity of any party that may have been involved remain unclear, and Netanyahu did not provide any evidence implicating a specific country.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, when a Flydubai Boeing 737 carrying 174 passengers was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to passengers, the co-pilot attacked and stabbed the captain in the cockpit in an attempt to crash the plane.

The captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and subdue the attacker before the plane made an emergency landing in the Kingdom without casualties. The flight-tracking website Flightradar24 showed the plane dropped 17,000 feet in just one minute before landing safely in Tabuk.

In the UAE, the incident has also entered the legal process. On Thursday, the UAE judiciary confirmed it had begun an investigation. The public prosecutor ordered an inquiry into whether the attack was linked to any terrorist activity or premeditated planning, including examining any possible connection between the assault and terrorist activity or prior preparation.