Flydubai co‑pilot attacks captain with axe on flight to Tel Aviv

On 30 September, the 29‑year‑old co‑pilot of Flydubai flight FZ1073 attacked the captain with a survival axe, put the Boeing 737 Max into a steep descent from Dubai to Tel Aviv and tried to destroy the aircraft’s instruments, saying he wanted to steer the plane into the Tel Aviv airport terminal; the captain opened the cockpit door and, together with a fellow pilot, a cabin crew member and several passengers, overpowered the attacker.

The co‑pilot had previously been removed from service by his former employer Oman Air for extremist tendencies; the UAE Public Prosecution confirmed the central details of the attempt and on 10 October summoned two additional Flydubai pilots from the Maldives for questioning, noting they had brief service with the airline and reportedly had contact with the co‑pilot, while police are interviewing all Flydubai staff who interacted with him.