UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said Friday that investigations into an incident involving a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv revealed that the Omani national serving as co-pilot had allegedly begun carrying out a premeditated terrorist plot, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

 

 

Al Shamsi said the co-pilot planned to seize control of the aircraft and use it to carry out a “suicide attack” targeting the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, with the aim of causing the largest possible number of casualties.

 

Investigators traced the suspect’s personal and professional background and found that signs of his alleged radicalization and involvement with extremist ideology began in 2017 while he was studying in Australia. He was reportedly influenced by “takfiri” ideas through reading extremist literature and following online content glorifying terrorist organizations and suicide attacks.

 

According to the attorney general, this influence developed into the adoption of ideas promoting “violence and terrorism.” The suspect was also inspired by the September 11, 2001 attacks and developed the idea of carrying out a similar operation using an aircraft. His decision to pursue a career in aviation was reportedly connected to that plan.

 

The suspect, 29, worked for several airlines in different countries. He was employed by Oman Air from 2020 to 2024, joined Royal Air Maroc in early 2025 for several months, and then moved to Flydubai in January 2026.

 

The suspect reportedly told investigators that while studying in Melbourne, he attended a mosque affiliated with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and became acquainted with people associated with a center known as “My Center.” He claimed the center was run by a Lebanese man known as “Abu Hamza” and, according to his account, was supported by an association linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.

 

He also said he had psychologically and physically prepared himself for the planned operation by intensifying his consumption of material promoting terrorism and training in boxing under a private coach.

 

Investigators found that the suspect had used two previous flights to Tel Aviv to study the flight route and airport as part of his preparations before attempting to carry out the plan during his third flight on September 30, 2026.

 

The investigation also examined the suspect’s recruitment by Flydubai. It found that he had met the company’s professional and security requirements, including holding a valid pilot’s license, a certificate of good conduct and the required clearances. No indications of his alleged extremist views or intention to carry out a terrorist plot emerged during those procedures.

 

On the day of the incident, the suspect reportedly surprised the pilot inside the cockpit and attacked him with an emergency axe. The pilot resisted and attempted to call for help.

 

The captain of the return flight happened to be near the cockpit at the time. He noticed the cockpit door repeatedly opening and closing in an unusual manner, raising his suspicions. He approached the cockpit and attempted to enter using the security code. After gaining access, he saw the suspect attacking the pilot.

 

With the assistance of a crew member and several passengers, he intervened, rescued the injured pilot and restrained the suspect. The return-flight captain and his co-pilot then regained control of the aircraft, diverted its route and landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.

 

In the presence of his lawyer and with all legally required safeguards in place, the suspect gave investigators a detailed account of his alleged motives and the stages of planning and execution. He admitted acting alone without the involvement of others, although the investigation remains ongoing to verify that claim.

 

The UAE Public Prosecution also questioned the aircraft captain, the return-flight captain and his co-pilot, as well as crew members. A forensic report found that the pilot’s injuries were concentrated on the head, a vital and potentially fatal area, and were recent and consistent with an assault involving an object matching the nature of an emergency axe. The findings were consistent with statements by the suspect, the pilot and witnesses.

 

The UAE Public Prosecution continues to examine the evidence and investigate whether the suspect had any accomplices or other connections, as well as reviewing recordings and technical reports. Further findings will be announced as the investigation proceeds.