Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted after cockpit attack

Cockpit attack

On flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, the copilot used a rescue axe to attack the captain, attempting to take control of the aircraft and was suspected of wanting to crash it in Israel. The pilot was severely injured but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing the aircraft to land safely in Tabuk.

Passengers overpowered the copilot during the incident.

Security background

The copilot, an Omani citizen, had previously been considered a security risk by Oman Air, which suspended him after extremist material was found in 2024 while he was a flight student and imposed a flight ban for holding radical ideological views. He later moved to Flydubai after leaving Oman Air without a government review.

Arrest and custody

Saudi authorities arrested the copilot in Tabuk following the emergency landing and transferred him to Abu Dhabi on Thursday, where he remains in custody.

The aircraft carried 174 passengers at the time of the incident.