{
  "id": 13370892,
  "title": "UAE prosecutor: Flydubai co-pilot planned suicide attack on Tel Aviv airport, sought ‘greatest possible loss of life’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/uae-prosecutor-flydubai-co-pilot-planned-suicide-attack-on-tel-aviv",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-10T08:58:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2026/10/10/uae-prosecutor-flydubai-co-pilot-planned-suicide-attack-on-tel-aviv-airport-sought-greatest-possible-loss-of-life/238587"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On October 10, the UAE's top prosecutor disclosed that the co-pilot of a FlyDubai aircraft intended to crash the plane into Tel Aviv's international airport, seeking the \"greatest possible loss of life.\" The incident occurred when the co-pilot, an Omani man, attempted to seize control of the aircraft during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The majority of passengers on board, who were mostly Israeli, recounted a rapid descent and a struggle for control of the plane, which ultimately landed in Saudi Arabia. The passengers were subsequently returned to the UAE on a subsequent FlyDubai flight.\n\nThe unnamed co-pilot, now detained in the UAE, drew inspiration from Al-Qaeda's September 11, 2001 suicide attacks in the United States. The prosecutor's findings, published by state media, stated that the co-pilot's radicalization began while he was studying in Australia, where he consumed extremist literature and followed online content promoting terrorist organizations and suicide attacks. This was the co-pilot's third flight to Tel Aviv, and he allegedly used the previous trips to plan the attack.\n\nDuring the flight, an Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, confronted the co-pilot, who initially used an emergency axe to attack him. A pilot assigned to the return flight overheard the unusual activity of the cockpit door opening and closing repetitively, and he entered the cockpit along with a cabin crew member and several passengers. Together, they rescued the injured captain and restrained the suspect. The plane was then landed at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.\n\nDespite having met the professional and security requirements for employment, including holding a pilot's license, providing a certificate of good conduct, and completing the necessary checks, the co-pilot's extremist views and intentions to carry out a terrorist plot went undetected. He had previously worked for Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc, but media outlets reported that he had been barred from flying for Oman due to concerns about his extremist views. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commended the bravery of the passengers and the plane's captain in averting a catastrophe and subsequently ordered a thorough review of security measures in foreign civil aviation to Israel.",
  "summary": "DUBAI, Oct 10 — The co-pilot who attacked the captain of a flydubai jet last week had planned to crash the plane i...",
  "key_points": [
    "Omani co-pilot planned suicide attack on Tel Aviv airport.",
    "Attempted to crash plane, inspired by Al-Qaeda 9/11 attacks.",
    "Confronted by Indian captain, rescue operation at Tabuk Airport."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}