UAE Attorney General Reveals Alarming Insights into Fly Dubai Incident
On October 9, 2026, the UAE Attorney General, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, disclosed new information regarding the Fly Dubai aircraft incident. The suspect, an Omani co-pilot, allegedly plotted to take control of the plane and use it for a suicide mission, with his intentions reportedly originating in Australia in 2017. Al Shamsi elaborated that the assailant attacked the aircraft's captain with an emergency axe, and highlighted that the suspect had worked for several airlines before joining Fly Dubai, meeting all professional and security employment requirements, as reported by the UAE News Agency (WAM).
Career Path and Background of the Suspect
According to Al Shamsi, the accused had a diverse career trajectory, working for various airlines across different countries. He was employed by Oman Air from 2020 until 2024, followed by a brief stint at Royal Air Maroc in early 2025 before joining Fly Dubai in January 2026. The suspect acknowledged that during his studies in Melbourne, Australia, he frequented a mosque affiliated with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), where he became acquainted with individuals from a center operated by a Lebanese national known as "Abu Hamza." This center allegedly received support from an organization linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Furthermore, Al Shamsi indicated that the suspect had been preparing for his plan both mentally and physically by intensively studying materials that incite terrorism and training in boxing under a personal coach. Investigations revealed that the suspect utilized two previous flights to Tel Aviv to scout the flight path and airport prior to attempting to execute his plot on the third flight, which occurred on September 30, 2026.
The incident unfolded when the assistant pilot attacked the captain in the cockpit, leading to a violent struggle. The return flight captain, noticing unusual behavior with the cockpit door, managed to intervene after entering the cockpit using the access code. With the help of cabin crew and passengers, they were able to subdue the assailant and assist the injured captain, while the return flight captain regained control of the aircraft and safely diverted it to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
During questioning, the suspect provided detailed confessions regarding his motives and the planning stages of his actions, claiming he acted alone without any accomplices. The Attorney General confirmed that investigations are ongoing to ascertain whether there were any additional partners or connections involved.
The shocking event dated back to September 30, when Fly Dubai flight FZ1073, which was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, experienced a sudden descent of over 16,000 feet within approximately 30 seconds. Reports indicated that the co-pilot attacked the captain with the emergency axe inside the cockpit, resulting in injuries before the captain could open the cockpit door and passengers intervened. The flight was subsequently piloted by reserve pilots who were aboard, successfully landing the aircraft in Tabuk with over 170 passengers, predominantly Israeli, on board. Authorities apprehended the assistant pilot upon landing, and the UAE has launched an investigation into the circumstances and motives behind the incident, revealing that the co-pilot had intended to hijack the aircraft for a suicide mission.
As reported by alarabiya.net.
