“This Was Indeed Terrorism” | Eylon Levy on Al Arabiya (30 September 2026)

Eylon Levy says the attempted hijacking of a Tel Aviv-bound Flydubai flight could have ended in catastrophe, with passengers forced to intervene to stop the co-pilot from taking control of the aircraft. He argues that while the exact motive remains under investigation, Israel has reason to suspect a jihadist terror attack. In this dramatic interview on Al Arabiya, former Israeli national spokesman Eylon Levy explains: Why Israel is treating the incident as a suspected attempted terror attack despite the motive still being under investigation. How passengers reportedly overpowered the co-pilot and helped prevent a potentially catastrophic crash. Why Israeli intelligence will want to work closely with Saudi and Emirati authorities to determine whether anyone else was involved. The broader challenge facing global aviation when a pilot themselves becomes a potential threat to the aircraft. Why airlines worldwide may need to reconsider pilot background checks, psychological evaluations and security procedures. The incident raises wider questions about aviation security and the vulnerabilities that remain when the person responsible for flying an aircraft becomes the source of the threat. Eylon also highlights the cooperation and assistance provided by Saudi authorities to the Israeli passengers following the emergency landing. 🎯 “The airline industry does not have good answers for what happens if the pilot is the one who decides to down the plane.”