Flydubai Hijacking Was ‘False Flag’ Plot to Draw US into Iran War: Iran claims

Iran’s state-run Press TV has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of planning a “false flag” incident involving the hijacking of a United Arab Emirates aircraft to draw the United States into a new military conflict with Iran. No independent evidence has so far emerged to support the allegation.

In a report published on Thursday, Press TV, citing an unnamed “well-known regional source,” claimed that the cockpit incident on Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30 was part of the alleged plan. Turkey’s Anadolu Agency also published the Press TV report.

According to the Press TV source, Mr. Netanyahu made a secret visit to the UAE three days before the incident. Several senior military and intelligence officials reportedly accompanied him. The source claimed that during the visit, officials from several Arab countries discussed an alleged operation that was intended to later be blamed on Iran.

The report said the main aim of the alleged plan was to encourage US President Donald Trump to take new military action against Iran. It also claimed that the plan was linked to Mr. Netanyahu’s efforts to deal with a possible political crisis facing his coalition ahead of Israel’s parliamentary election.

However, Press TV did not identify its source or provide any documents or independent evidence to support the claims. According to reports by international media, the Flydubai incident on September 30 was a serious aviation security emergency. Flight FZ1073 was carrying 174 passengers and eight crew members from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Shortly after takeoff, a violent confrontation reportedly broke out between the two pilots in the cockpit, causing the aircraft to lose altitude rapidly. The plane later made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi authorities said the flight initially transmitted the international emergency code “7700” and later “7500”. Code “7500” generally indicates unlawful interference or a possible hijacking. After the aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, the captain and first officer were both taken to hospital. The passengers and other crew members were safe.

Reports by Reuters and other international media said preliminary allegations indicated that the co-pilot attacked Captain Smit Machar and attempted to take control of the aircraft. The plane lost about 14,000 feet in a short period during the confrontation. The situation was later brought under control after intervention by additional crew members and several passengers, and the aircraft landed in Tabuk.

The motive and exact cause of the incident remain under investigation. There has been no immediate response from Israel, the UAE or the United States to Press TV’s “false flag” allegation. Flydubai and the relevant investigating authorities have also urged against reaching any conclusions about the cause or motive of the incident before the investigation is completed.