UAE prosecutor reveals Flydubai co-pilot's foiled suicide plot targeting Ben Gurion Airport

The UAE Attorney General, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, has revealed that an Omani national serving as a Flydubai co-pilot was inspired by the September 11, 2001 attacks and plotted to seize control of an aircraft and carry out a suicide attack targeting the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. The attempt was set to take place during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, 2026, before the plan was thwarted.

Al Shamsi explained that investigations into flight FZ1073 showed the 29-year-old suspect had meticulously planned the attack to cause maximum casualties. He had previously flown two routes to Tel Aviv to scout the flight path and airport before attempting to execute his plan on the third trip.

According to the Public Prosecution, the suspect attacked the aircraft captain in the cockpit with the emergency axe, catching him off guard. The captain resisted and tried to call for help. Coincidentally, the return flight captain was nearby and noticed the cockpit door being repeatedly opened and closed in an unusual manner, prompting him to approach and attempt entry using the security code.

Upon entering the cockpit, the return captain saw the suspect assaulting the pilot. With the help of a crew member and several passengers, they managed to subdue the attacker and rescue the injured captain. The return captain and his co-pilot then took control of the aircraft, diverted its course, and landed it safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.

Al Shamsi stated that the investigation traced the suspect's path to radicalization, revealing that signs of extremism began in 2017 while he was studying in Australia. He was influenced by extremist literature and online content glorifying terrorist organizations and suicide attacks.

He added that this influence escalated into adopting violent and terrorist ideologies, with the September 11 attacks inspiring him to carry out a similar operation using an aircraft. According to his confession, this motivation led him to pursue a career in aviation.

The suspect admitted that while studying in Melbourne, he frequented a mosque affiliated with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), where he met staff from the "My Centre." He claimed the center was run by a Lebanese individual known as "Abu Hamza" and was supported by an association linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, according to his statements.

He also stated that he prepared himself mentally and physically for the attack by consuming more extremist content and training in boxing with a private coach.

The Attorney General noted that the suspect worked for Oman Air from 2020 to 2024, then joined Royal Air Maroc in early 2025 for several months before moving to Flydubai in January 2026.

Investigations showed the suspect met all professional and security requirements for employment, including a pilot's license, a certificate of good conduct, and medical checks, with no indications of extremist tendencies or plans for a terrorist act emerging during these procedures.

Al Shamsi said the suspect gave a detailed confession regarding his motives and the planning and execution stages in the presence of his lawyer and with all legal guarantees. He admitted to acting alone, though investigations are ongoing to verify this claim.

The Public Prosecution has also heard statements from the aircraft captain, the return flight captain and his co-pilot, and other crew members. Forensic reports confirmed the captain's injuries were concentrated on the head—a vital area where wounds could be fatal—and were recent and consistent with an attack using the emergency axe, corroborating the suspect's and witnesses' accounts.

The Public Prosecution confirmed that evidence is still being examined to determine if there were any accomplices or additional links, and that technical recordings and reports are under review. Further findings will be announced as the investigation progresses.