UAE Attorney-General Says Flydubai Flight FZ1073 Co-Pilot Planned Suicide Attack on Tel Aviv Airport
The UAE Attorney-General revealed that a flydubai co-pilot allegedly planned a 9/11-inspired suicide attack to crash a passenger jet into Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport before being thwarted mid-air. Investigations traced the suspect's background and found that signs of radicalisation first emerged in 2017 while he was studying in Australia.
UAE Attorney-General Counsellor Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi announced on Friday, October 9, that an investigation into the incident involving flydubai flight FZ1073 revealed that the aircraft's Omani co-pilot had allegedly planned a terrorist attack to seize control of the plane and crash it into the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. The alleged plot aimed to cause maximum casualties, according to the UAE state news agency WAM. The 29-year-old suspect began executing the plan during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, 2026.
Radicalisation and Planning
According to WAM, investigations traced the suspect's background and found that signs of radicalisation first emerged in 2017 while he was studying in Australia, where he was influenced by extremist literature glorifying terrorist organisations and suicide attacks, reports ANI. Israel Was Prepared To Shoot Down Flydubai Flight FZ1073 With 150 People Aboard After Cockpit Attack: Report.
The Attorney-General stated that the suspect drew inspiration from the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, confessing that the idea of carrying out a similar operation using an aircraft became firmly established in his thinking. The suspect stated that his decision to pursue a career in aviation was tied to this objective. Following roles with Oman Air from 2020 to 2024 and Royal Air Maroc in early 2025, he joined flydubai in January 2026. Investigators noted that he used two prior flights to Tel Aviv to familiarise himself with the route before allegedly attempting the plot on his third flight.
Cockpit Attack and Mid-Air Intervention
On the day of the incident, the suspect allegedly surprised the aircraft's captain inside the cockpit and attacked him with an emergency axe. The captain resisted and attempted to call for assistance. A pilot assigned to the return flight, who was aboard as a passenger, noticed the cockpit door opening and closing repeatedly in an unusual manner. He approached the cockpit, entered via the access code, and witnessed the attack. The pilot intervened with the help of a cabin crew member and several passengers, rescuing the injured captain and restraining the suspect. Meanwhile, the return-flight captain and his co-pilot regained control of the aircraft, diverted its route, and landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. Flydubai Flight Incident: What We Know About the Co-Pilot Who Allegedly Attempted To Crash the Plane.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Investigation
The Attorney-General stated that the suspect provided a detailed confession in the presence of his lawyer and with required legal safeguards in place, admitting that he acted alone. However, authorities are continuing to examine potential accomplices or connections. The Public Prosecution has recorded statements from the flight crew and passengers, while forensic reports confirmed that the captain sustained severe head injuries consistent with an emergency axe attack. Investigations into technical reports and recordings remain ongoing.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 10, 2026 07:40 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
