UAE reveals details of 'Flydubai' co-pilot's plot to carry out suicide attack on Ben Gurion Airport
- The defendant, an Omani national, was inspired by the September 11 attacks, and his decision to pursue a career in aviation was linked to his plan to carry out a similar attack.
- He exploited two previous flights to Tel Aviv to scout the flight route and the airport before initiating his plot.
- He confessed to planning and executing the act alone, in the presence of his lawyer... while the prosecution continues its investigation to verify the existence of accomplices or other connections.
The Federal Public Prosecutor in the United Arab Emirates, Advisor Dr. Hamad Saif Al-Shamsi, announced that investigations into the incident involving Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, 2026, revealed an attempt by the aircraft’s co-pilot, an Omani national, to execute a pre-planned terrorist plot. The objective was to hijack the plane and use it in a suicide attack targeting the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, aiming to cause the maximum number of casualties.
The Emirates News Agency (WAM) quoted Al-Shamsi as stating that investigations showed the 29-year-old defendant began being influenced by extremist ideas in 2017 while studying in Australia, through reading takfiri literature and following online content that glorified terrorist organizations and suicide operations.
He explained that the defendant drew inspiration from the September 11, 2001 attacks and began considering carrying out a similar operation using an aircraft. He noted that, according to his confessions, this idea was linked to his decision to pursue a career in aviation.
Al-Shamsi added that the defendant worked for Oman Air between 2020 and 2024, then moved to Royal Air Maroc at the beginning of 2025, before joining Flydubai in January 2026.
The defendant admitted that during his studies in Melbourne, Australia, he frequented a mosque affiliated with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), through which he met the managers of the "My Centre" center. He stated that it was run by a Lebanese man named "Abu Hamza," who, according to his account, received support from an association linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.
He indicated that the defendant prepared himself psychologically and physically for his plot by following materials inciting terrorism and training in boxing with the help of a private coach.
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Investigations revealed that the defendant exploited his participation in two previous flights to Tel Aviv to scout the flight route and the airport before proceeding with his plot during his third flight on September 30.
The Federal Public Prosecutor confirmed that a review of the recruitment procedures for the defendant at Flydubai proved that he met all professional and security requirements, including his pilot license, certificate of good conduct, and necessary medical examinations, with no indicators of his extremist tendencies or terrorist intentions emerging.
Details of the Assault
On the day of the incident, the defendant ambushed the pilot inside the cockpit and attacked him with an emergency axe, while the pilot attempted to resist and call for help.
The captain of the return flight, who was on board the aircraft near the cockpit, noticed the unusual repeated opening and closing of the cockpit door. He attempted to enter using the secret code, eventually succeeded, and witnessed the assault.
The return flight captain intervened with the assistance of a cabin crew member and several passengers. They managed to rescue the injured pilot and subdue the defendant. The return flight captain and his co-pilot then took control of the aircraft, diverted its course, and landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
Confessions and Ongoing Investigations
Al-Shamsi confirmed that the defendant provided detailed confessions, in the presence of his lawyer and with all legal guarantees provided to him, regarding his motives and the stages of planning and execution. He admitted that he acted alone without involving others, while the Public Prosecution continues to verify the accuracy of this claim.
The prosecution heard the statements of the pilot and his crew. The forensic report confirmed that the pilot’s injuries were concentrated on the head and resulted from an assault with an instrument consistent in nature with an emergency axe, aligning with the defendant’s statements and witness testimonies.
The Public Prosecution continues to examine evidence, recordings, and technical reports, and is verifying the possibility of accomplices or other connections. It will announce the results of the new investigations as its interests dictate.
