By TheDailyNewsHub Reporter
The United Arab Emirates has said an Omani co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of a Flydubai passenger aircraft planned to seize control of the plane and crash it into the terminal at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport in an attack prosecutors believe was inspired by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States.
The UAE Attorney-General, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, disclosed the findings on Friday, October 9, following an investigation into the September 30 incident involving Flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv before being diverted to Saudi Arabia.
According to the prosecution’s account, the 29-year-old suspect had allegedly prepared for the attack in advance and used two earlier flights to Tel Aviv to familiarise himself with the route and the airport. Investigators believe he attempted to execute the plan during his third journey to the Israeli city.
The authorities said the suspect intended to cause the greatest possible loss of life by taking control of the aircraft and directing it into the airport’s passenger terminal.
The findings represent the most detailed official account yet of the alleged motive and preparations behind the incident. The investigation remains ongoing, and prosecutors said they were continuing to examine evidence and verify whether anyone else was involved.
The incident unfolded while the Boeing 737 aircraft was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. According to the UAE investigation, the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain inside the cockpit with an emergency axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft.
The captain resisted and tried to call for assistance. Another pilot who was on board and preparing for the return journey noticed unusual activity around the cockpit and intervened after gaining access. A cabin crew member and several passengers also helped restrain the suspect and assist the injured captain, according to the prosecution’s account.
The pilots subsequently regained control of the aircraft, changed its route and landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority had confirmed shortly after the incident that the flight experienced a security emergency that required diversion and an emergency landing, with injured crew members taken to hospital.
The attack reportedly caused the aircraft to lose altitude rapidly while it was over Saudi airspace. The intervention of the captain and others on board prevented the alleged attempt to seize the aircraft from progressing further.
Investigators said the suspect’s interest in carrying out an attack similar to the September 11 attacks developed years before the incident. According to the attorney-general, the investigation traced the beginning of his radicalisation to 2017, when he was studying in Australia and was exposed to extremist publications and online material promoting terrorist organisations and suicide attacks.
Prosecutors said the suspect told investigators that his ambition to carry out a similar operation influenced his decision to pursue a career in aviation. He allegedly prepared himself physically and psychologically, including by consuming extremist material and taking boxing lessons.
The suspect’s professional history was also examined. The UAE attorney-general said he had worked for Oman Air between 2020 and 2024, joined Royal Air Maroc in early 2025 and moved to Flydubai in January 2026.
The investigation examined the recruitment and screening procedures through which he joined the Dubai-based airline. According to the prosecution, he held a pilot’s licence, provided a certificate of good conduct and completed the required professional and security checks. Investigators said those procedures had not identified indications of extremist views or an intention to carry out an attack.
The findings have raised questions about how the suspect allegedly prepared for the incident despite passing the checks required for employment. However, the attorney-general’s statement did not accuse Flydubai of knowingly employing a person planning an attack, and the investigation’s findings should not be interpreted as establishing wrongdoing by the airline.
The suspect reportedly gave investigators a detailed account of his motives and preparations in the presence of his lawyer and under the legal safeguards provided by UAE law. He said he acted alone, but prosecutors stressed that they were still verifying this claim and examining possible connections or accomplices.
Authorities are continuing to review recordings, technical reports and witness statements, including accounts from the injured captain, the pilot who intervened and other crew members. A forensic medical report, according to the attorney-general, found that the captain had recent head injuries consistent with an assault involving an implement resembling an emergency axe.
The UAE has assumed responsibility for the criminal investigation because the aircraft is registered in the country. Saudi authorities also handled the emergency landing and have been involved in examining aspects of the incident.
The episode has drawn international attention because of the potential consequences had the aircraft been taken over and directed towards a busy international airport. Ben Gurion Airport is Israel’s main international gateway, serving commercial flights into the Tel Aviv area.
The September 30 incident initially prompted an investigation into a cockpit altercation and the circumstances that forced the flight to divert. The latest announcement from the UAE attorney-general has now set out prosecutors’ allegations about the intended target, the suspected motive and the preparations they believe preceded the flight.
The authorities have said further updates will be released when appropriate as the investigation continues.