Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not ruled out the possibility that Tel Aviv could join the investigation into an incident involving a Flydubai aircraft. The politician made the statement in an interview with Fox News, according to infohub.kz.
Speaking to the television channel, the head of the Israeli government noted that the detained man is currently being interrogated.
"The pilot who carried out the attack is now under investigation in Saudi Arabia. I think he will be brought to the Emirates, where he is from, or at least where he departed from. And we will monitor this investigation, and possibly take part in it," Netanyahu said.
Israeli Air Force fighter jets were scrambled toward the aircraft. It later emerged that the plane had landed in Saudi Arabia. Flydubai subsequently told Israeli television that a fight had broken out between pilots on board the Dubai–Tel Aviv flight.
First photos and videos from the plane soon appeared. The image shows a passenger who is believed to have struggled with the attacker. Authorities are also examining the theory that one of the pilots may have deliberately tried to crash the plane. It is believed that his actions were stopped by the co-pilot and Israeli passengers, who fought him and prevented a disaster.
Media reports also said that pilots from Ukraine and Russia were traveling as passengers and took over the controls of the FlyDubai aircraft.
It later emerged that the pilot injured when his colleague attacked him aboard the FlyDubai plane was an Indian citizen, Smit Machchhar.
Flydubai has suspended flights to and from Israel until the investigation into the incident is completed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with a passenger on the Flydubai flight who helped subdue the pilot who started the fight.
The condition of the aircraft's captain, who was injured in the incident, has also become known.