UAE Says Flydubai Co-Pilot Attempted ‘Terrorist Attack’ After Allegedly Attacking Captain With Axe

DUBAI (Terror Monitor) — United Arab Emirates authorities have described an incident aboard an Israel-bound Flydubai passenger flight as an attempted “terrorist attack,” alleging that the aircraft’s Omani co-pilot assaulted the captain with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the plane during the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

UAE Attorney-General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the co-pilot attempted to carry out a terrorist act aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday, September 30. The announcement, reported by the state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM), marked the first public characterisation of the incident as an attempted terrorist attack by Emirati authorities.

According to the attorney-general, the co-pilot attacked the captain inside the cockpit with a crash axe, an emergency tool carried aboard aircraft, and attempted to seize control of the plane. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the incident, the suspect’s possible motives and any potential connections to other individuals or organisations. Authorities are also reviewing physical and digital evidence.

The confrontation prompted an emergency diversion to Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The aircraft landed safely after passengers and crew members intervened to restrain the co-pilot. A reserve pilot travelling aboard the flight took over flight duties and helped bring the aircraft to the ground.

Reports said 182 people, including passengers and crew, were aboard the aircraft. The intervention prevented the confrontation from escalating into a potentially catastrophic aviation emergency.

Reuters, citing a source with direct knowledge of the case, identified the co-pilot as Hammam A., an Omani national. Emirati authorities had not immediately confirmed the identity in response to a request for comment.

The incident has also drawn attention to reports about the co-pilot’s previous employment. According to an Associated Press report, he had previously been barred from flying for Oman Air amid concerns about extremist views. The circumstances behind that decision, the nature of the concerns and the extent to which the information was available during his subsequent employment with Flydubai remain matters requiring clarification.

A source involved in the investigation reportedly told Reuters that investigators had not found evidence linking the co-pilot to a militant organisation. His motive and whether he acted alone have not been conclusively established, and the reported employment history does not independently prove a connection to terrorism.

Saudi authorities detained the co-pilot after the aircraft landed in Tabuk. The captain sustained injuries in the alleged assault, while the remaining passengers and crew were able to reach safety following the emergency landing.

Flydubai said the circumstances of the incident remained under investigation and that the airline was unable to comment further at this stage.

The case has raised questions about aviation security, particularly the procedures airlines use to assess flight crew backgrounds and respond to potential threats from within their own operations. However, it remains unclear whether any screening failures occurred or whether the incident could have been prevented.

UAE authorities have said the investigation will examine the suspect’s motives, the sequence of events inside the cockpit, possible links and all available physical and digital evidence. No final findings establishing the motive or confirming the involvement of additional individuals have been announced.

The aircraft’s safe landing in Saudi Arabia brought the immediate emergency to an end, but the investigation continues to determine what led to the alleged attack and whether further security measures may be necessary.