UAE says Omani flydubai co-pilot planned suicide attack on Tel Aviv flight

The UAE attorney general said the Omani co-pilot of the Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv planned to hijack the aircraft and carry out a suicide attack on a terminal at Ben Gurion Airport. The suspect confessed to acting alone, but authorities are investigating possible…pic.twitter.com/ll.

MwjKMPGH— Clash Report (@clashreport)October 9, 2026The suspect "had begun carrying out a premeditated terrorist plot to seize control of the aircraft and use it to launch a suicide attack targeting the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, with the aim of causing the greatest possible loss of life", Al Shamsi said.

Read More:Flydubai co-pilot attacked pilot with axe, attempted 'terrorist attack', UAE says. The plan was inspired by the September 11, 2001, attacks on the US, UAE public prosecutors think, as a result of their criminal investigation launched on October 1.

It found the suspect had used two previous flights to Tel Aviv to "familiarise himself with the flight route and the airport", the state news agencyWAMreported. It is the first public confirmation of the co-pilot's 9/11 inspiration.

The incident caused the jet to plunge 4,900 metres in 30 seconds. Al Shamsi said the suspect had previously worked for several airlines in different countries, including Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc, before joining flydubai in January 2026.

Saudi Arabia has launched a separate safety investigation into flight FZ1073's incident, sources told. Reuters. The aircraft was in Saudi airspace when the Omani co-pilot attacked the aircraft's captain with a crash axe, typically kept in the cockpit for use during emergencies.