UAE investigators say flydubai co-pilot was planning ‘terrorist act’

UAE investigators have disclosed that the co-pilot of a flydubai flight to Israel was allegedly planning a terrorist act and used the cockpit's emergency axe to assault the captain. However, the investigators have not disclosed the motive behind the attack. The nationality of the suspect remains unidentified by the UAE investigation, but a Saudi source has confirmed to AFP that he is Omani.

Media reports suggest that the co-pilot had been barred from flying in his home nation due to concerns about extremist views. The attack occurred as the first flight carrying Israelis back from the UAE landed in Tel Aviv, following the suspension of services due to the incident. The co-pilot attempted to seize control of the aircraft by attacking the captain with the emergency axe and managed to do so, but the captain managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to overpower the attacker.

The aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after plummeting by approximately 17,000 feet in just one minute. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alleged that the suspect had undergone Islamist radical indoctrination and had tried to crash the plane.