DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates has opened an investigation into an incident aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv that forced the aircraft to divert and land in Saudi Arabia, state news agency WAM reported Thursday.

UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi ordered the formation of a team of prosecutors to investigate the incident aboard flight FZ1073, which landed safely at Tabuk airport on Wednesday.

The investigation follows a statement from flydubai that said an altercation took place inside the cockpit during the flight, prompting other crew members aboard the aircraft to intervene and secure it.

Prosecutors have begun investigating in coordination with the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority and other government agencies, WAM reported.

Authorities will seek to determine the circumstances and motives behind the incident, including whether it was linked to terrorism or involved any advance planning or direction.

Al Shamsi urged the public to avoid speculation and the circulation of unverified information while the investigation remains underway. He said information about the incident should be obtained from official sources until authorities have established the facts.

UAE authorities have jurisdiction over the investigation because the aircraft is registered in the country and flies under the UAE flag, meaning UAE criminal law applies to offenses committed on board even when an aircraft is outside the country's territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday it was too early to say who was behind the foiled bid to crash a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv ‌but that ‌Israel would “possibly” be ‌participating in the probe into the incident.

“It’s too early to say, the attacking pilot is .. now being investigated in Saudi Arabia. I think he’ll be ‌taken ‌to the Emirates, where he comes ‌from, or at ‌least where he left, where he flew off from, and we’ll be following ‌and possibly also participating in this investigation,” Netanyahu said in an interview to Fox News host Sean Hannity on the network’s “Hannity” program.

Netanyahu’s comment came in response to a question about whether there was any indication of Iranian involvement in the incident.Both Nte DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates has opened an investigation into an incident aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv that forced the aircraft to divert and land in Saudi Arabia, state news agency WAM reported Thursday.

UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi ordered the formation of a team of prosecutors to investigate the incident aboard flight FZ1073, which landed safely at Tabuk airport on Wednesday.

The investigation follows a statement from flydubai that said an altercation took place inside the cockpit during the flight, prompting other crew members aboard the aircraft to intervene and secure it.

Prosecutors have begun investigating in coordination with the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority and other government agencies, WAM reported.

Authorities will seek to determine the circumstances and motives behind the incident, including whether it was linked to terrorism or involved any advance planning or direction.

Al Shamsi urged the public to avoid speculation and the circulation of unverified information while the investigation remains underway. He said information about the incident should be obtained from official sources until authorities have established the facts.

UAE authorities have jurisdiction over the investigation because the aircraft is registered in the country and flies under the UAE flag, meaning UAE criminal law applies to offenses committed on board even when an aircraft is outside the country's territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday it was too early to say who was behind the foiled bid to crash a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv ‌but that ‌Israel would “possibly” be ‌participating in the probe into the incident.

“It’s too early to say, the attacking pilot is .. now being investigated in Saudi Arabia. I think he’ll be ‌taken ‌to the Emirates, where he comes ‌from, or at ‌least where he left, where he flew off from, and we’ll be following ‌and possibly also participating in this investigation,” Netanyahu said in an interview to Fox News host Sean Hannity on the network’s “Hannity” program.

Netanyahu’s comment came in response to a question about whether there was any indication of Iranian involvement in the incident.

Meanwhile in a post on X early on Thursday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded Indian FlyDubai pilot Smit Machchhar, calling him a “hero”.

“In the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, he showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others. His valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy,” Modi said.

The Indian Embassy in Riyadh said the injured captain, Smit Machchhar, was in a stable condition in a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

The Boeing 737 MAX he was flying, which was on its way from the UAE to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, made an emergency landing at the city’s airport on Wednesday morning.

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, praised Machchhar, who was wounded when his co-pilot attacked him in what Israeli authorities said was an attempt to crash the aircraft and kill all those on board.

“My salute to the Indian pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar, for his extraordinary bravery,” Netanyahu wrote in a message posted on social media platform X.

“Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back … preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster. He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals.”

Netanyahu’s spokesperson told Reuters that Machchhar was covered with blood and on the floor when he managed to press the release that opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers in to tackle the attacker.