Today, a terrorist attack was foiled aboard a flight from Dubai to Israel carrying predominantly Israeli passengers.
According to the information currently available, the aircraft’s systems recorded a sequence of actions and flight data indicating deliberate sabotage of the aircraft’s systems, intended to cause the plane to crash. The incident bears disturbing similarities to the method used in the September 11 attacks, in which civilian aircraft were deliberately turned into weapons.
Thanks to the courage, determination and quick action of the Israeli passengers, the Indian pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar and the two relief team pilots who took over, a potentially catastrophic terrorist attack was prevented and the lives of 180 people were saved.
The choice of this particular route has been intended to undermine the Abraham Accords and damage the relationship between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Targeting it was therefore not only an attempt to harm Israeli passengers, but also a symbolic attack on the ties between our countries. They will not succeed, our relations will stay as strong as ever.
Jihadists seek to harm Israeli civilians by every possible means, in the air and on the ground. They will not be allowed to win!