Transcript [00:00] It's a pleasure now to welcome from the [00:02] UAE, Ambassador Mark Severs, the former [00:04] US ambassador to the Sultenate of Oman. [00:07] Joining us now from Abu Dhabi. Thank you [00:10] so much for your time. An extraordinary [00:12] sequence of events on this day. As we've [00:15] been outlining here in studio, many [00:17] questions remain. So, I'd like to start [00:19] with your thoughts on the fact that this [00:22] co-pilot is believed to be from Oman. [00:25] And as we well know, there is a [00:27] diplomatic agreement that crew who don't [00:30] have a passport from a country that [00:32] doesn't have diplomatic relations with [00:34] Israel can't actually fly towards Tel [00:36] Aviv. So, how did he get into the [00:38] cockpit as a pilot in the first place? [00:40] Your take, your concerns. [00:43] >> Well, obviously something went wrong. Uh [00:47] there should not have been an Omani [00:48] co-pilot u but not just an Omani [00:51] co-pilot but someone who you know uh had [00:55] some kind of terrorist motivation it [00:57] would appear. I think we need to wait [01:00] for the the full investigation. There [01:02] are multiple channels of investigation [01:04] underway right now. There is, I'm sure, [01:07] within Fly Dubai itself, which is a [01:10] state-owned airline [01:12] um in uh in the Dubai Emirate uh and [01:17] through uh the Amirati services as well. [01:21] The uh uh co-pilot who attacked the [01:25] pilot is in Saudi custody. As I [01:28] understand, the Saudis will will also be [01:31] involved in uh in this investigation. [01:33] And of course, Israel uh is coordinating [01:37] with everyone and has the the greatest [01:39] stake in in trying to understand how [01:41] this could have happened. There are many [01:42] questions uh how did he bring a knife on [01:45] board uh into the cockpit? uh uh how was [01:49] uh you know his attitudes and not known [01:53] to his company and his his colleagues in [01:56] the airline and how was there uh in fact [02:00] in in the uh in the cockpit at all an [02:03] Omani national as a uh co-pilot but you [02:08] know you can't assume that because [02:11] somebody is from a a country that does [02:14] not have relations with Israel that [02:16] doesn't mean they're hostile And it [02:17] doesn't mean that people uh from [02:19] countries that do have relations are not [02:21] hostile. But nonetheless, that is the [02:23] agreement. It does appear to have not [02:26] worked and uh and that needs to be uh [02:29] investigated thoroughly and I'm sure it [02:31] will be. [02:32] >> No doubt about that. The vetting process [02:34] is going to be scrutinized. There's no [02:36] doubt. We're talking about this attacker [02:41] in Saudi Arabia right now. We know this [02:44] rescue flight has just touched down in [02:46] Tel Aviv. We've seen the scenes of [02:48] jubilation when the passengers were [02:50] reunited back at home. But Saudi Arabia, [02:54] interestingly enough, earlier in the day [02:56] rejected an Israeli request to send a [02:58] military or even civilian plane to bring [03:01] passengers home. What do you make of [03:03] that dynamic? As you can well imagine, [03:06] Israel wanted to go and make sure that [03:08] its citizens were safe and bring them [03:10] back where they belong. Your take? Um [03:13] actually from from what I understand of [03:16] Saudi attitudes and Saudi policy that [03:19] doesn't surprise me terribly much. There [03:21] is no formal relationship uh between [03:24] Saudi Arabia and Israel and there's no [03:26] recognition uh by Saudi Arabia yet uh of [03:30] Israel. Um there obviously are channels [03:33] and various forms of communication and [03:35] those seem to be functioning on on [03:38] multiple levels. Um but uh for them to [03:42] allow an Israeli military aircraft uh or [03:45] an LL flight to land in Tobuk uh uh [03:50] would strike me as as something that [03:52] that's maybe a little more than they're [03:54] willing uh to uh to risk at this point [03:58] and much easier for them uh to allow [04:01] another uh uh air Fly Dubai plane to [04:05] come and pick up uh uh the passengers uh [04:08] of the uh the aircraft that managed to [04:10] to land uh in their territory. So, I [04:13] don't actually find this terribly [04:15] surprising. I wouldn't read too much [04:16] into it. [04:17] >> We do know that earlier in the day, [04:19] Benjamin Netanyahu did speak to the UAE [04:22] president MBZ and no doubt there will be [04:26] some level of coordination, sharing of [04:28] information between the UAE, Israel, and [04:31] potentially Saudi Arabia when it comes [04:33] to the investigations here. your sense [04:35] of some kind of positive understanding [04:37] in terms of working together to make [04:39] sure something like this never happens [04:42] again. Briefly, please. [04:44] >> Well, sure. First of all, this is deeply [04:46] embarrassing uh to the Emirati [04:48] authorities. They they have every reason [04:50] to want to get to the bottom of it, and [04:52] I believe they will. They will do that [04:54] in full cooperation with the state of [04:57] Israel. I have no doubt about that. Um [05:00] how forthcoming the Saudis will be I [05:03] don't really know but they will want to [05:05] keep you know those discussions [05:07] uh behind uh closed doors but I think [05:10] they will also be cooperative uh because [05:13] they don't want to have to deal with [05:14] this either uh you know another uh [05:18] similar attempt so I think this will [05:21] actually boost the regional cooperation [05:24] that is already underway uh it has quite [05:27] a a long way to go still. But uh the [05:30] potential it is certainly there of uh [05:34] and uh I think that's a very positive [05:36] thing. But the main thing I want to say [05:38] along with everyone else in Israel [05:40] tonight is how relieved I am that that [05:43] everyone is is fine. It's just a [05:45] remarkable story uh uh on a human level [05:49] too. all these total strangers who came [05:51] together at a critical moment uh and [05:54] avoided a catastrophe because of their [05:56] courage and their determination. [05:59] >> Heroic and their skill [06:00] >> indeed. No doubt about that. Ambassador [06:03] Mark Severs live from Abu Dhabi. Always [06:05] appreciate your time. Thank you so much.
