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An Israeli government official said that Israeli investigators will participate alongside Emirati authorities in investigating the Flydubai co-pilot whose plane was diverted and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia to determine what happened and investigate the motives and background of the suspect.
The source declined to identify the Israeli entity or authority that will participate in the interrogation.
The Emirates News Agency reported on Thursday that the authorities have opened an investigation to determine the circumstances, motives, and whether it was linked to "any terrorist activity or purpose or prior planning or direction for it."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Friday that any party proven to be involved in the Flydubai plane incident would pay a "very high price," without providing evidence of any state's responsibility.
Netanyahu said in a statement, "As time goes on, the picture becomes clearer: the attacker underwent an 'Islamic' radicalization path and came to crash the plane with all its passengers."
He added, speaking about the co-pilot who attacked the pilot in the cockpit, "We are investigating whether he was sent, and whoever sent him will pay a very high price."
Netanyahu did not specify which country might be involved in the incident, but for years he has been quick to accuse Iran, which Israel and the United States have waged war against in February.
US President Donald Trump said earlier in response to a question about the incident that he had heard that Iran was involved and that it would "suffer a very strong blow" if proven.
A Flydubai plane bound for Tel Aviv from Dubai with nearly 100 Israelis on board changed its course to Saudi Arabia after sending emergency signals, following a dispute between the pilots, not due to a hijacking.
A responsible source at the Saudi Ministry of Interior said on Thursday that the Flydubai pilot who made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia and his co-pilot left for Abu Dhabi after their health improved and the medical team allowed them to accompany the Emirati security team.
The source explained in a statement published on the Saudi Ministry of Interior's pages that the initial investigations carried out by the competent authorities in Saudi Arabia in cooperation with a security team from the United Arab Emirates indicated that the pilot was assaulted by his co-pilot, resulting in various injuries.
He confirmed that Saudi Arabia deals with emergency cases in accordance with its international and humanitarian obligations and as stipulated in the systems and instructions adopted by the relevant authorities to ensure the safety and security of air navigation and the readiness of the aviation and security systems in the Kingdom and its ability to respond quickly and effectively to exceptional situations.
He explained that the competent authorities in Saudi Arabia took the necessary measures to deal with the emergency situation declared on Flydubai flight number (FZIO73) and granted it permission to make an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk on Wednesday, as the plane landed safely at 9:45 am with 174 passengers and a crew of 8, providing them with all necessary care.
He added that at 5:40 pm, all passengers completed their journey on a replacement Flydubai flight, while the flight crew returned to Dubai on another flight of the same airline, except for the pilot and co-pilot who were taken to the hospital to receive the necessary treatment based on an assessment of their health condition.
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