Prosecutors in the United Arab Emirates have classified the attack by a second pilot on the commander of a flydubai Dubai–Tel Aviv flight as an attempted terror act. According to the investigation, he used an emergency axe and tried to seize control of the aircraft. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

RBC reported this with reference to a statement by UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al-Shamsi, published by the WAM news agency. According to the attorney general, the second pilot began carrying out his plan during the flight, attacking the commander in the cockpit.

Investigation continues

The investigation is ongoing. Investigators are establishing the circumstances, motives and possible connections related to the incident, conducting technical examinations and analyzing physical and digital evidence. Final results will be announced after the necessary procedures are completed.

How the events unfolded

The incident occurred on the morning of September 30 aboard a Boeing 737 operating flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to Ynet, there were 174 passengers on board, including 27 children.

The aircraft first transmitted code 7700, indicating a general emergency, and then code 7500, used in cases of unlawful interference or hijacking of an aircraft.

According to Flightradar24, within a minute the plane descended from about 10,000 to 4,500 meters. It then changed course and headed toward Saudi Arabia, where it landed at Tabuk airport at 9:58 Moscow time. Israeli Air Force fighter jets were scrambled to escort the aircraft.

flydubai statement

flydubai said the situation was brought under control by the company's flight crew members on board. They decided to change the route and landed the plane in Tabuk.

The carrier stated that all passengers and crew members are safe, and sent two aircraft to Saudi Arabia to pick them up.

Netanyahu and the investigation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested on September 30 that the attacking pilot tried to crash the plane. The following day, in an interview with Fox News, he allowed for Israel's participation in the investigation.

According to Netanyahu, at that time the suspect was being interrogated in Saudi Arabia, after which he could be handed over to the UAE.

On October 3, ABC News, citing sources, reported that the suspected attacker is 29-year-old Omani citizen Hamam Al-Hammami.

According to the TV channel's interlocutors, in 2024, when he worked at Oman Air, extremist materials were found in his possession. After that, he was allowed to continue working in an administrative position.

ABC News also reported that on October 1, Al-Hammami was transferred from Saudi Arabia to the UAE.

Suspension of flights

Earlier, Kursiv wrote that after the incident, flydubai temporarily suspended all flights between Dubai and Israel. The airline said it would resume flights after receiving additional information based on the investigation's results.

Flydubai is a state-owned company of the United Arab Emirates. In Kazakhstan, it operates flights from Almaty and Astana to Dubai. In September 2026, the carrier also launched cargo flights from Almaty to Dubai.