Ben-Gvir To Demand Extradition Of Flydubai Pilot After Attempted Hijacking

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Thursday he will press Israel’s security cabinet to seek the extradition of a flydubai co-pilot held in Saudi Arabia after an alleged attempt to crash a Tel Aviv-bound jet.

Ben-Gvir, a member of the cabinet, said he would urge the Justice Ministry and diplomatic officials to use every available channel to bring the suspect to Israel for questioning and prosecution.

“Anyone who planned to crash a plane and murder 180 Israelis must be extradited to Israel and pay the heaviest price here,” Ben-Gvir said in a statement from his office. “We cannot be satisfied with the fact that the disaster was prevented through abundant divine mercy and thanks to our heroic passengers.”

He added: “Our security doctrine must be clear: Anyone who tries to murder or harm Israelis, the State of Israel will pursue them and settle the score with them anywhere in the world.”

The demand follows Wednesday’s emergency aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Israeli officials said the co-pilot stabbed the captain, Indian national Smit Machchhar, and tried to bring the Boeing 737 down. The aircraft dropped thousands of feet in under a minute before passengers and crew forced their way into the cockpit, overpowered the attacker and helped a second pair of pilots on board land the jet at Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said all passengers were safe, praised Machchhar for opening the cockpit door while wounded, and said Saudi authorities had arrested the attacker and were questioning him. Netanyahu said Machchhar’s actions helped save 174 people. Defense Minister Israel Katz called the episode an attempted jihadist attack that was stopped by Israeli passengers.

Israeli officials have described the suspect as an Omani national. His name has not been released, and his motive remains under investigation. Flydubai has said an altercation occurred on the flight deck and that the cause is being formally investigated. The airline later suspended flights to and from Israel.

Any extradition request would face steep obstacles. Israel and Saudi Arabia have no formal diplomatic relations, and the suspect is in Saudi custody. Netanyahu has said Israel is in contact with the relevant authorities. Transportation Minister Miri Regev has called for tighter screening of pilots on routes to Israel, and Netanyahu has ordered identity and security checks on crews flying into the country.

Ben-Gvir had already labeled the attacker a terrorist on Wednesday, writing that the episode was a reminder that “terror is an evil that must never be met with any agreement other than defeating it.”

Passengers reached Ben-Gurion Airport later Wednesday on a replacement aircraft. Several described a violent struggle in the cockpit and credited Machchhar and fellow travelers with preventing a crash.