{
  "id": 11650370,
  "title": "UAE investigators say flydubai co-pilot was planning 'terrorist act'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/uae-investigators-say-flydubai-co-pilot-was-planning-terrorist-act-11650370",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-03T09:32:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Middle East Eye",
    "slug": "middle-east-eye",
    "url": "https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/uae-investigators-say-flydubai-co-pilot-was-planning-terrorist-act"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "UAE investigators have reported that the co-pilot of a flydubai flight to Israel allegedly planned a terrorist act and attacked the captain with the emergency axe in the cockpit, according to a statement from the UAE's state news agency WAM. While the motive behind the attack remains undisclosed, a Saudi source has confirmed to AFP that the attacker was Omani. Media outlets also suggested that the individual had been prohibited from flying within his home nation due to suspicions of extremist ideologies. This development occurred as the inaugural flight bringing Israelis back to the UAE from the United States touched down in Tel Aviv following the suspension of services in the aftermath of the incident. WAM quoted UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi as stating that initial investigations revealed the co-pilot's intentions and actions in the cockpit.",
  "summary": "UAE investigators say flydubai co-pilot was planning 'terrorist act' UAE investigators have said the co-pilot of a flydubai flight to Israel this week was planning a \"terrorist act\" and used the cockpit's emergency axe to attack the captain, but they did not reveal his motive. Initial findings from the UAE's investigation into the attack also did not confirm his nationality, according to a report…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 11,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "UAE prosecutor general says flydubai co-pilot 'attempted terrorist attack'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/uae-prosecutor-general-says-flydubai-co-pilot-attempted-terrorist",
        "published": "2026-10-03T06:25:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Co-pilot on flydubai flight 'attempted to carry out terrorist act', UAE's attorney general says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/co-pilot-on-flydubai-flight-attempted-to-carry-out-terrorist-act-uaes",
        "published": "2026-10-03T06:30:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Omani pilot used ‘crash axe’ in cockpit to attack Captain Smit Machchhar, attempted ‘terrorist attack’: UAE",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/omani-pilot-used-crash-axe-in-cockpit-to-attack-captain-smit",
        "published": "2026-10-03T06:47:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "UAE investigators say flydubai co-pilot was planning 'terrorist act'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/uae-investigators-say-flydubai-co-pilot-was-planning-terrorist-act",
        "published": "2026-10-03T07:38:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with axe, UAE official says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-co-pilot-attacked-captain-with-axe-uae-official-says",
        "published": "2026-10-03T07:49:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Flydubai co-pilot attempted terror attack during flight, UAE says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-co-pilot-attempted-terror-attack-during-flight-uae-says",
        "published": "2026-10-03T08:04:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "UAE investigators say flydubai co-pilot was planning 'terrorist act'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/uae-investigators-say-flydubai-co-pilot-was-planning-terrorist-act-11638638",
        "published": "2026-10-03T08:20:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KBC",
        "title": "Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with axe, UAE official says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-co-pilot-attacked-captain-with-axe-uae-official-says-11642808",
        "published": "2026-10-03T08:26:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KahawaTungu",
        "title": "Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with axe, UAE official says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/flydubai-co-pilot-attacked-captain-with-axe-uae-official-says-11643100",
        "published": "2026-10-03T08:28:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "UAE investigators say flydubai co-pilot was planning ‘terrorist act’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/uae-investigators-say-flydubai-co-pilot-was-planning-terrorist-act-11645219",
        "published": "2026-10-03T08:46:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}