Jerusalem, Oct. 1 -- Michal Maayan, spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Thursday that initial assessments by Israeli authorities indicate that the co-pilot aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 allegedly intended to crash the aircraft carrying 174 passengers, including women and children, in a severe terrorist incident that was thwarted at the last minute by the extraordinary bravery of Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar.

Detailing Israel's latest evaluation of the mid-air incident, Maayan described the preliminary findings as deeply disturbing, while praising the heroism of Captain Machchhar, whose decisive actions prevented a major tragedy.

"What we know at this stage is deeply disturbing. The initiexal assessme...