On September 30, 2026, a FlyDubai flight destined for Tel Aviv was underway. Among the crew was an Omani national serving as co‑pilot, a position he had earned after meeting all the airline’s hiring standards. He held a valid pilot’s licence and presented a clean conduct certificate, documents that satisfied both professional and security checks at the time of his employment.
According to statements later made to authorities, the Omani co‑pilot had formed a plan to direct the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport in a suicide attack. He told investigators that his motive was rooted in the events of September 11, saying he had been inspired by those terrorist strikes. He said he had acted alone, without involving any other person.
Breaking News: The co-pilot who attacked the captain of a FlyDubai flight last week intended to crash into Israel’s largest airport, Emirati officials said. https://t.co/lUostzbTWR
As the flight progressed, the co‑pilot attempted to carry out his design by moving to attack the pilot. His actions were noticed by the other flight crew, who intervened to restrain him. Passengers also became aware of the disturbance and assisted in subduing the co‑pilot. The combined effort forced the aircraft to deviate from its intended route and led to an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on September 30, 2026.
Passengers also became aware of the disturbance and assisted in subduing the co‑pilot.
After landing, the co‑pilot told investigators that he had undertaken the act without any accomplices. UAE Prosecutor Hamad Saif Al Shamsi addressed the case publicly, stating that the co‑pilot had affirmed having acted alone, without the implication of other people. The prosecutor also recounted that the individual had filled the professional and security conditions required at hiring, such as holding a pilot’s licence, presenting a good conduct certificate, and undergoing the required checks, and that none of these procedures had revealed indices suggesting his extremist opinions.
The FlyDubai co-pilot who tried to hijack the plane during a flight to Tel Aviv last month made that trip two previous times to familiarize himself with the route and the airport, the UAE state-run WAM news agency said https://t.co/MwhRXdrWlr
Investigations remain ongoing to verify the veracity of the co‑pilot’s claims.