Flydubai Co-Pilot Planned Suicide Attack on Tel Aviv Airport, UAE Prosecutor Says

An Omani co-pilot aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv was planning a suicide attack on Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport, the United Arab Emirates' Attorney General announced on Friday, 10 October. The suspect attacked the aircraft's captain during the flight in late September, forcing an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The incident was widely reported at the time but few details had been released — until now. **Inspired by the September 11 Attacks** UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said in an official statement that the co-pilot told investigators he had acted alone, with no involvement from any other individuals or organisation. He reportedly said he was inspired by the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, in which hijackers deliberately crashed commercial aircraft into landmark targets. Prosecutors said they were continuing their investigation "in order to verify this claim." **How Did He Pass Security Checks?** The case has raised serious questions about aviation screening procedures. The Attorney General addressed this directly, stating that the suspect "met the professional and security requirements at the time of hiring" — including holding a valid pilot's licence, submitting a certificate of good conduct, and passing all required background checks. "None of these procedures revealed any indication of his extremist views," Al Shamsi added. Flydubai is a low-cost airline based in Dubai, UAE, and operates scheduled passenger flights across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Europe. It is a subsidiary of Emirates Group and regularly serves routes to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, one of the busiest airports in the region. **What Happened on the Flight?** The incident occurred in late September when the co-pilot physically attacked the other pilot in the cockpit during the flight. The assault forced the crew to divert and carry out an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. No passengers were reported injured. The co-pilot was subsequently detained by UAE authorities. **Why This Matters** The case highlights ongoing concerns about insider threats in civil aviation — where individuals who pass routine security vetting may still harbour extremist intentions undetected. Aviation authorities worldwide have long acknowledged this as one of the hardest risks to mitigate, particularly for routes to politically sensitive destinations such as Tel Aviv. The investigation remains open. UAE prosecutors have not yet announced formal charges or a trial date. Source: ION News / France24