An Omani co-pilot working for flydubai planned a deadly suicide attack on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, aiming to crash the plane into the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport. The United Arab Emirates attorney general, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, confirmed the details on Friday after the 29 year old suspect gave a full confession in front of his lawyer.
The incident took place on September 30 aboard flight FZ1073. According to officials, the co-pilot attacked the captain inside the cockpit using an emergency axe and struck him on the head. A captain who was scheduled for the return flight happened to be on board and was sitting near the cockpit. He noticed the door opening and closing in a strange way, entered using the access code, and quickly stepped in with help from a cabin crew member and several passengers. Together they restrained the suspect and rescued the injured captain.
The return flight captain and his co-pilot then took control of the aircraft, diverted it safely to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, and landed without further harm. Investigators later found that the suspect’s extremist views started forming in 2017 while he was studying in Australia. He became influenced by online material and literature that praised terrorist groups and suicide attacks, and he drew clear inspiration from the September 11 attacks in the United States.
He admitted preparing for the attack by reading more extremist content and training in boxing with a private coach. He also flew to Tel Aviv twice earlier to study the route and the airport layout. The suspect previously worked for Oman Air from 2020 to 2024, then briefly for Royal Air Maroc in 2025, before joining flydubai in January 2026. Airline checks at the time showed he met all professional and security requirements, including a valid pilot licence and a certificate of good conduct. No signs of radical views appeared during recruitment.
A forensic medical report confirmed the captain’s head injuries matched an assault with an emergency axe. Prosecutors are still reviewing recordings, technical reports, and statements from the crew and passengers. Although the suspect claimed he acted alone, investigators continue to check for any possible accomplices. Further updates will be shared as the case develops.
