Suspicions of Nationalist Motive Mount; Israelis Refuse Relief Flight

The investigation of the Omani copilot continues in Saudi Arabia amid growing terror suspicions, while stranded Israeli passengers refuse to board an alternative Flydubai plane.

A Flydubai Boeing 737-800 landing at Dhaka Airport, 2012 · Photo: Faisal Akram from Dhaka, Bangladesh · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The interrogation of the Omani first officer is currently underway on Saudi soil, and suspicions in Jerusalem are mounting that his attempt to crash the aircraft was driven by nationalist motives, network N12 reported. However, officials noted that there is not yet complete certainty regarding the motive.

Meanwhile, an alternative Flydubai aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia to bring the passengers back to Israel, but Israeli passengers at the airport are refusing to board it, and no solution has yet been reached.

According to a report in the Financial Times, the aircraft carrying more than 150 passengers plunged 20,000 feet during the violent struggle in the cockpit and squawked an unlawful interference distress signal before landing in Saudi Arabia.