Flydubai Co-Pilot Planned Deadly Attack on Ben Airport Terminal

The prosecutor stated that the 29-year-old co-pilot had become radicalized starting in 2017 while studying in Australia. He reportedly consumed extremist literature and online content glorifying terrorist organizations and suicide bombings, drawing inspiration from the 9/11 attacks, which he claimed influenced his decision to become a pilot. According to the prosecutor's statement, the co-pilot had previously worked for Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc before joining Flydubai in January of this year. The UAE prosecution asserted that he met all professional and security requirements for employment, including a clean criminal record, and that no checks revealed his extremist views or intentions.

Previous reports indicate that Omani authorities discovered in 2024 that the co-pilot was browsing extremist websites and concluded he could not be trusted as a pilot. He was enrolled in a de-radicalization program and reassigned to an administrative role, but Oman did not share its concerns with other countries. The Wall Street Journal reported that Flydubai conducted a criminal background check but did not contact Oman regarding his professional history. Royal Air Maroc stated he completed three months of theoretical training but his application was rejected. The co-pilot allegedly prepared for the attack physically and mentally, increasing his consumption of terrorist-promoting content and training with a private boxing coach. Investigations revealed he used two previous flights to Tel Aviv to familiarize himself with the route and airport, and on September 30, he attempted to execute his plan.

The announcement also detailed the events of the flight, stating the co-pilot surprised the captain in the cockpit and attacked him with the emergency axe. The captain struggled and tried to call for help. However, the sequence of events described differs from passenger accounts. According to the prosecutor's statement, a company pilot who was scheduled to fly the plane back to Dubai happened to be near the cockpit during the attack. He noticed the cockpit door opening and closing unusually, entered using the access code, and witnessed the co-pilot assaulting the captain. The pilot intervened immediately, and along with a crew member and several passengers, they rescued the injured captain and subdued the co-pilot. Together with another pilot, they took control of the aircraft, changed course, and safely landed the plane in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Medical evaluations confirmed the captain sustained potentially fatal head injuries consistent with an axe attack. The prosecution is currently reviewing evidence, flight recordings, and technical data to verify the co-pilot's claim of acting alone and to investigate any potential involvement of other parties.