Flydubai co-pilot planned suicide attack on Tel Aviv airport, UAE prosecutors say

UAE prosecutors allege a Flydubai co-pilot masterminded a suicide attack on Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. The Omani co-pilot, 29 years old, planned to crash the plane into the Israeli airport, killing many. The Attorney General, Hamad Al Shamsi, disclosed this on Friday following an investigation into the September 30 incident involving flight FZ1073.

The suspect confessed his terrorist intentions, drawing inspiration from the 9/11 attacks. His radicalization began in 2017 during his studies in Melbourne, Australia, where he encountered extremist literature and propaganda promoting terrorist activities. He attended a mosque affiliated with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and interacted with a Lebanese man, reportedly linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, at the institute.

The suspect worked for Oman Air between 2020 and 2024, Royal Air Maroc in 2025, and joined Flydubai in January 2026. He conducted reconnaissance on Tel Aviv airport via two previous flights. On the day of the attack, he allegedly assaulted the captain with an emergency axe in the cockpit. A passenger on the return flight noticed the cockpit door's unusual behavior, entered, and, along with crew and passengers, restrained the suspect, rescuing the injured captain.

The aircraft was safely diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. The suspect claimed to have acted alone, but authorities are still investigating these claims. The prosecution is examining recordings, technical reports, and potential links to accomplices.