Multiple reports say the co-pilot of a Flydubai passenger jet who reportedly axed the captain had planned to take control of the aircraft and crash it into a target in Tel Aviv. The BBC reports the co-pilot was described in the reporting as an “lone wolf” extremist. Other reporting similarly characterizes the motive as extremist.
The specific intended target varies by account. The BBC says the reports describe a plan to crash into Tel Aviv airport or a building. The Washington Times reports the plan was to crash the aircraft into a skyscraper in Tel Aviv. Across outlets, the central point is that the individual’s actions and alleged intentions are being investigated as part of a potential violent plot linked to extremist ideology.
Details such as the exact mechanism of the alleged plan, the timing, and the evidence cited in the reports are not fully consistent or fully detailed in the excerpts provided. Authorities and investigators are reported to be drawing conclusions based on information from the case as it develops.
