Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said it is “too early” to determine whether Iran was involved in the apparent hijacking attempt of a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.Also Read | ‘Used last of his energy’: How Captain Machchhar’s quick thinking helped save over 170 lives“Well, it’s too early to say,” Netanyahu told Fox News on Wednesday when asked whether there was any indication of Iranian involvement.“The attacking pilot is now being investigated in Saudi Arabia. I believe the suspect would be taken to the UAE and that Israel could also participate in the investigation,” he added.Netanyahu, however, claimed that “it’s no secret” that Iran wants to target Israelis both abroad and in Israel.“It’s no secret that Iran wants to target Israelis abroad, wants to target Israel here,” the Israeli premier said.Also Read | Captain Machchhar, a dentist, plumber & the crew who helped save over 170 lives on flydubai flightHe also pointed to signs from Tehran’s proxies of plans to carry out attacks, specifically citing Hamas and Hezbollah ahead of Israel’s October 27 elections.“We have clear evidence of that (Iran proxies’ plans). But I think that whether or not this was carried out as part of that plan, that we don’t know yet,” he added.Wednesday’s incident came ahead of the third anniversary of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. It also occurred amid the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran, which began on February 28.Israel and Iran had also fought a 12-day war in June 2025, during which the US intervened militarily in support of its ally Israel.Smit Machchhar, an Indian national piloting flydubai flight FZ 1073 to Tel Aviv, was seriously wounded after his co-pilot, reportedly an Omani national, stabbed him mid-air. Before collapsing, Machchhar managed to alert Israeli authorities and open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and overpower the attacker.According to the BBC, two off-duty flydubai pilots who were travelling on the same flight took control of the aircraft and made an emergency landing at Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk airport, where the plane was diverted.Around 180 passengers, most of them Israelis, were on board the flight. They were later flown to Tel Aviv on a second aircraft arranged by the UAE-based airline.Machchhar is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Saudi Arabia. According to the Indian Embassy, his condition is stable.
