Israel vows to get to root of flydubai attack, no motive yet determined

JERUSALEM, Oct 1: No motive has yet been determined for an apparent attempt to crash a passenger jet on its way to Israel, and an initial assessment suggested the co-pilot who stabbed the captain acted alone, Israeli officials said on Thursday.

Disaster was averted on Wednesday's flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv after the wounded captain managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers to subdue the attacker and a reserve crew that had been aboard to land the plane in Saudi Arabia.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacker was being investigated in Saudi Arabia, where the plane, with more than 170 people on board, landed safely at Tabuk airport. Netanyahu said he believed the attacker would be taken to the United Arab Emirates.

Two Israeli security officials said Israel's initial assessment is that the co-pilot was likely acting alone, though the investigation was still ongoing. �" REUTERS