What did the UAE investigation say the Flydubai co-pilot planned to do?

The UAE prosecutor said the co-pilot planned to crash the Flydubai aircraft into Tel Aviv’s international airport. He reportedly drew inspiration from Al-Qaeda’s September 11, 2001 attacks and sought to cause the greatest possible loss of life.

How did passengers stop the Flydubai cockpit attack and where did the plane land?

After the co-pilot attacked the captain and the aircraft plunged sharply, passengers rushed into the cockpit and helped overpower him. The damaged flight then made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

What security response did Benjamin Netanyahu order after the Flydubai incident?

Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a thorough review of all security aspects of foreign civil aviation to Israel. He also praised the Israeli passengers and the wounded captain for their bravery in preventing the attack.

Flydubai co-pilot planned suicide attack on Tel Aviv airport: UAE prosecutor

Listen

Summary

A Flydubai co-pilot attacked the captain aboard a flight bound for Tel Aviv last week and planned to crash it into Tel Aviv’s international airport. The Omani co-pilot was inspired by the September 11, 2001 attacks and aimed to cause the greatest possible loss of life, according to UAE prosecutor findings. Passengers subdued him after the plane plunged around 5,000 meters, and the aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

Key Facts

The captain, an Indian national, was wounded when the co-pilot attacked him with an axe but opened the cockpit door so passengers and crew could intervene.
The co-pilot had met professional and security requirements for employment, including holding a pilot’s license, providing a certificate of good conduct and completing required checks.
The passengers were overwhelmingly Israeli, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised them and the captain for their bravery.
Netanyahu ordered a thorough review of all security aspects of foreign civil aviation to Israel after the incident.

By AFP

Published Oct 10, 2026 2:37 am KST

A plane, carrying passengers who were on the FlyDubai aircraft bound for Israel from the United Arab Emirates, which was diverted to Saudi Arabia following an emergency signal, arrives at the Ben Gurion International Airport, in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel, Sept. 30. Reuters-Yonhap

DUBAI — The co-pilot who attacked the captain of a flydubai jet last week had planned to crash the plane into Tel Aviv's international airport, the United Arab Emirates' top prosecutor said on Friday.

The Omani co-pilot had drawn inspiration from Al-Qaeda's September 11, 2001 suicide attacks on the United States, and carried out his attempt "with the aim of causing the greatest possible loss of life", according to the prosecutor's findings published by state media.

"The findings showed that he had met the professional and security requirements for employment, including holding a pilot's licence, providing a certificate of good conduct and completing the required checks."

Passengers described rushing the cockpit and a fight for control after the plane suddenly plunged by around 5,000 metres (17,000 feet).

The plane's Indian captain was wounded when the co-pilot attacked him with an axe, but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the attacker and force an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

The passengers on board the aircraft were overwhelmingly Israeli, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailing them and the pilot for their bravery after the foiled attack.

He later ordered a "thorough review of all security aspects of foreign civil aviation to Israel" in response to the incident.

Explore More