UAE: Flydubai Co-Pilot Planned Suicide Attack on Ben Gurion Airport

The United Arab Emirates announced that its investigation into the incident involving Flydubai flight FZ1073, en route from Dubai to Israel on September 30, 2026, revealed that the co-pilot, an Omani national, had planned a "suicide operation" targeting Ben Gurion Airport's passenger terminal. The goal was to inflict maximum casualties.

Public Prosecutor Hamad Saif Al Shamsi stated that the 29-year-old suspect's extremist ideology began developing in 2017 while studying in Australia, where he was influenced by radical literature and online content glorifying terrorist organizations and suicide attacks. He adopted violent and extremist views, inspired by the 9/11 attacks, and conceived the idea of using an aircraft for a similar operation, which led him to pursue a career in aviation.

Al Shamsi detailed the suspect's career path, including stints with Oman Air (2020-2024), Royal Air Maroc (early 2025 for several months), and finally Flydubai starting in January 2026. The suspect admitted to visiting a mosque associated with RMIT in Melbourne, where he encountered individuals from the "My Center" organization, reportedly run by a Lebanese man named Abu Hamza and supported by an organization linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. He also engaged in psychological and physical preparation, consuming extremist material and training with a private boxing coach.

The investigation found the suspect had used two previous flights to Tel Aviv to scout the route and airport before attempting the attack on his third trip. Despite meeting all professional and security requirements for his Flydubai employment, including a flying license and background checks, no indicators of his extremist intentions were detected during the hiring process.

On the day of the incident, the co-pilot attacked the captain in the cockpit with an emergency axe. The captain resisted and attempted to call for help. The pilot of the return flight, noticing unusual activity at the cockpit door, gained entry and witnessed the assault. With assistance from a flight attendant and passengers, they subdued the co-pilot, rescued the injured captain, and regained control of the aircraft. The return flight captain and co-pilot diverted the plane to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.

The suspect confessed in the presence of his lawyer to acting alone, detailing his motives and planning stages. Investigations are ongoing to verify this and to examine potential accomplices or other connections. The prosecution has interviewed the captain, the return flight crew, and cabin staff. A forensic report confirmed the captain's head injuries were consistent with an attack by an object like the emergency axe.