Flydubai co-pilot tried to crash plane in Israel, UAE prosecutors say

A Flydubai co-pilot attempted to crash a passenger aircraft carrying more than 170 people into Israel after launching a mid-flight attack on the captain with a rescue axe, according to the UAE General Prosecutor’s Office. The incident occurred on Wednesday during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, leaving the captain seriously injured before passengers intervened and subdued the attacker, allowing the aircraft to land safely.

The Attack Aboard the Tel Aviv Flight

The violent confrontation unfolded mid-air on Wednesday. According to the UAE General Prosecutor’s Office, the co-pilot used a cockpit rescue axe to strike the pilot, inflicting severe injuries. Despite his wounds, the captain managed to unlock the cockpit door, enabling multiple passengers to rush forward and overpower the co-pilot. The aircraft, carrying over 170 people, subsequently landed safely. UAE authorities announced the formal charges on Saturday, classifying the episode as a planned terror act.

Previous Suspensions and Security Warnings at Oman Air

Investigative reports from international media outlets reveal that the suspect had a history of flagged security concerns at a previous airline employer. According to ABC News and CNN, citing high-ranking intelligence and law enforcement officials, the man had been suspended from Oman Air after being identified as a security risk. Internal records from 2024, when he worked as a co-pilot trainee at the Omani carrier, showed that extremist material was discovered in his possession. While stripped of his flight duties, he was permitted to remain with the company in an administrative capacity.

Further reporting from The Wall Street Journal corroborated that the man had previously been placed on a flight ban in Oman due to fears over radical ideological views. Investigators are now probing how the individual subsequently cleared vetting processes to secure employment and fly for Flydubai.

Interrogation and Stated Intentions in Custody

Following his arrest, the co-pilot was transferred back to the United Arab Emirates to face prosecution. Sources briefed on the ongoing investigation told ABC News that the detained man is cooperating with authorities and has indicated that his primary objective was to deliberately crash the Flydubai aircraft in Israel. UAE prosecutors have not yet released an official detailed breakdown of the suspect’s personal motives beyond the classification of the flight deck assault as an act of terror.

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