FlyDubai co-pilot attacks captain, attempts suicide crash into Tel Aviv airport

The Omani co‑pilot on a FlyDubai flight has been accused of planning to crash the plane into Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, prosecutors in the UAE said on Friday. He was aboard flight 1073 bound for Israel when he attacked the captain, forcing an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The aircraft, carrying 182 passengers and crew, descended steeply after the altercation, tearing off part of its rudder and nearly losing control.

The incident follows a surge of aviation security concerns after the 2023 Israel‑Hamas war and the 2024 rise in Middle East tensions. The co‑pilot, a 34‑year‑old from Oman, reportedly had a history of mental health issues and had previously expressed extremist views on social media. Authorities say the plan was inspired by the 9/11 attacks and the attacker’s diary entries, which documented a desire to strike a symbolic target in Israel.

The flight was forced to descend sharply after the altercation, damaging the aircraft’s rudder and causing a near‑catastrophic loss of control. Saudi air‑traffic controllers guided the aircraft to an emergency landing at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. No injuries were reported, and all passengers were safely evacuated. The UAE prosecutor’s office is now pressing charges of attempted terrorism and assault on a crew member, while Israeli authorities have demanded the co‑pilot’s extradition.

The co‑pilot is being held in a UAE detention centre pending trial, and the case will be heard by the UAE’s Federal Court of Criminal Justice. Meanwhile, FlyDubai has issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to safety and pledged to cooperate fully with investigators. The incident has reignited debate over crew security protocols, prompting the International Civil Aviation Organization to call for tighter safeguards against insider threats.