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<\/a><\/p>\nPassengers from flydubai flight FZ1073 walk with their family members through the arrivals hall at Ben Gurion International Airport on Sept. 30, 2026. (Flash90)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned in an interview with CNN that Iranian proxies \u201care planning attacks against Israel and Israeli civilians abroad.\u201d In a separate statement, Netanyahu said he had instructed Israel\u2019s security establishment \u201cto prepare for additional potential threats.\u201d<\/p>\n
Doron Spielman, a spokesman for the Prime Minister\u2019s Office, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency on Friday that Netanyahu\u2019s statement applied to \u201cintelligence about threats against Israelis and against Jews in Israel and around the world,\u201d and that Israel was \u201cemploying additional procedures\u201d as a result. He did not disclose the details of the extra precautions.<\/p>\n
Spielman added that \u201call of the Jewish communities around the world know that they\u2019ve been on heightened alert since the seventh of October, but especially right now.\u201d <\/p>\n
The incident has also left Israelis stranded in the United Arab Emirates, after flydubai suspended its flights to and from Israel while the investigation into the incident continues.<\/p>\n
Netanyahu had told international media on Wednesday that Israel was preparing \u201crescue flights\u201d to bring Israelis in the UAE home and had ordered increased security. The measures apply to both Israeli and foreign airlines operating flights to Israel.<\/p>\n
Dorin Turgeman, an Israeli citizen currently in Dubai, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that she had been scheduled to return to Israel Wednesday on a flydubai flight that was canceled. She managed to book a flight with the Israeli airline Arkia but said she remained concerned that it would also be canceled.<\/p>\n
Turgeman said Israelis waiting at the Dubai airport were moved to an isolated area and that the area was cordoned off.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe situation is stressful,\u201d she said, describing the uncertainty as \u201cvery frustrating.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ophir Shir, an Israeli who lives in Dubai, told Israel\u2019s Kan public broadcaster that the incident had \u201cshaken the sense of security\u201d he\u2019d had. As someone who frequently travels the route of the flydubai flight, he noted that, \u201cIn the short term, I will definitely be afraid to take such a flight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dubai has become an increasingly popular destination for Israelis in the wake of the signing of the Abraham Accords establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE. It also now serves as a major transit point for Israelis traveling onward to destinations in Asia. Israeli travel groups on social media have been filled with posts expressing concern about the security situation and uncertainty over how travelers will return home.<\/p>\n
The security concerns come as investigators continue to explore the motive behind the incident and whether the pilot was acting alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs time goes by, the picture becomes clearer,\u201d Netanyahu said in an official statement on Friday. \u201cThe perpetrator underwent Islamist radicalization. He came to crash the plane. We are now investigating whether he was sent, and whoever sent him will pay a very heavy price.\u201d<\/p>\n
Netanyahu separately told CNN that Israel believes it should participate in the investigation. He said UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed had agreed that Israel would \u201cjoin the interrogation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Netanyahu also told Fox News that \u201cIt looks very likely that he was going to down the plane.\u201d He pointed to what he described as \u201cthe Islamist tendencies, that radicalization that are found in his background,\u201d saying they were \u201ca pretty good clue,\u201d while stressing that he was not yet drawing a final conclusion.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t make final conclusions yet. But that\u2019s the indication we have now,\u201d Netanyahu said.<\/p>\n
The UAE on Friday publicly described the incident for the first time as a terrorist attack. Anwar Gargash, a senior Emirati official, called it \u201ca dangerous terrorist act and a potential disaster.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Omani pilot, whose identity has not been publicly released, was transferred from Saudi Arabia to the UAE, according to Israeli and international media reports.<\/p>\n
The other pilot, Indian national Captain Smit Machchhar, has received widespread praise for his actions during the flight. According to passenger accounts and leaders who spoke with him, Machchhar was injured by the Omani pilot but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to overpower the attacker and safely land the plane.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was on the ground, I realized the aircraft was falling down. And I knew in that moment, one last push, Smit! Just do it. The door is right there,\u201d Machchhar told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a conversation while still wearing a bandage on his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd even at that time, he was beating me up. And then I just opened it \u2026 and then everybody came,\u201d Machchhar said. \u201cI was doing this for my life, but at the same time, I knew that I couldn\u2019t let everybody else die.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leaders around the world have praised Machchhar for his actions. Modi told the pilot that his \u201ccourage, patience and quick thinking saved the lives of so many people.\u201d<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump called Machchhar a \u201chero\u201d and described his actions as \u201camazing.\u201d Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Machchhar had \u201cprevented a 9\/11 disaster.\u201d<\/p>\n