UAE Prosecutor Details Planned Terror Attack on FlyDubai Flight to Tel Aviv

The Attorney General of the United Arab Emirates, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, revealed details of a planned terrorist attack on a FlyDubai flight bound for Tel Aviv on September 30. The second pilot of the flight intended to hijack the aircraft and use it to carry out a terror attack targeting passengers at Ben Gurion Airport's terminal.

An investigation traced the 29-year-old accused's ideological and professional path, noting early signs of extremism in 2017 during his studies in Australia, where he was influenced by online content. His radicalization intensified with the events of September 11, 2001. The man confessed to deliberately choosing a piloting career to fulfill his terrorist ambitions, having previously used two flights to Israel to study the route.

On the day of the incident, the perpetrator attacked the aircraft commander in the cockpit with an emergency axe. A reserve captain on the return flight noticed suspicious activity at the cockpit door, used a secret code to open it, and, with the help of flight attendants and passengers, subdued the attacker.

The crew diverted the plane and made a safe landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The accused provided detailed testimony to prosecutors, stating he acted alone. The prosecution is continuing to examine evidence, investigate potential connections and accomplices, and analyze technical reports. Medical examinations confirmed the captain sustained severe head injuries while repelling the attack.