ABU DHABI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Attorney-General of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said Friday that investigations into the Sept. 30 incident aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 revealed that the co-pilot had attempted to carry out a suicide attack targeting the passenger terminal at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv.
In a statement, Al Shamsi said the suspect, a 29-year-old Omani national, had planned to crash the aircraft into the terminal to cause as many casualties as possible.
Investigations showed that the suspect had prepared the attack in advance, using two previous flights to Tel Aviv to familiarize himself with the route and the airport before attempting to execute his plan on his third flight on Sept. 30, departing from Dubai for Tel Aviv.
According to the statement, investigators found that signs of his radicalization emerged in 2017 while he was studying in Australia, where he was influenced by extremist ideology through reading radical publications and consuming online content glorifying terrorist organizations and suicide attacks.
A review of his recruitment procedures found that he had met all professional and security requirements, including holding a valid pilot's license and passing the necessary background checks, with no indications of his extremist views or plans.
Before joining flydubai in January 2026, the suspect had worked for several airlines in different countries, including Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc.
During the flight, the suspect attacked the captain inside the cockpit with an emergency axe, striking him in the head. The captain resisted and attempted to call for help.
The captain assigned to operate the return flight, who was also aboard the aircraft, noticed the unusual repeated opening and closing of the cockpit door and entered the flight deck. With assistance from a cabin crew member and several passengers, he subdued the suspect and helped rescue the injured captain.
The return-flight captain and his co-pilot subsequently regained control of the aircraft, diverted it to Saudi Arabia and landed safely at Tabuk Airport.
Al Shamsi said the suspect had made detailed confessions in the presence of his lawyer and claimed to have acted alone, although investigations were continuing to verify whether others were involved.
The UAE Public Prosecution said it was continuing to examine evidence, review flight recordings and technical reports, and investigate any possible accomplices or connections. Further findings will be announced as the investigation progresses. ■
