UAE prosecutors say flydubai co-pilot attempted terrorist act on Tel Aviv flight
In short
UAE prosecutors say the co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 attempted to carry out a terrorist act after the Tel Aviv-bound aircraft diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on September 30. Flight-tracking data shows the plane left Dubai at 07:05, sent general-emergency and unlawful-interference transponder codes, and landed safely at Tabuk at 10:45 UAE time. The General Civil Aviation Authority opened an investigation and the Attorney-General ordered a specialised prosecution team.
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UAE prosecutors say the co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 attempted to carry out a terrorist act, according to Gulf News and Emirates 24|7. The flight, bound for Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, left Dubai on September 30 and diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia after what Gulf News described as dramatic changes in altitude, emergency transponder signals and a distress call. [ 2 , 3 ]
Gulf News’s timeline, based on flight-tracking data, records the aircraft departing Dubai International Airport at 07:05 UAE time and climbing to about 34,000 feet. At 09:21 it began a pronounced descent, followed by a sharp climb and another steep descent, reaching about 15,000 feet by roughly 09:33. It transmitted 7700, the general-emergency code, at 09:28 near the Saudi-Jordanian border, and at 09:35 switched to 7500, the code for unlawful interference, turning west and briefly entering Jordanian airspace before turning back towards Saudi Arabia. Tabuk air traffic controllers received a distress call at 09:44 UAE time, or 08:44 Saudi time, and the aircraft landed safely at Tabuk at 10:45 UAE time. [ 2 ]
Gulf News said the flight-tracking data does not by itself establish what was happening inside the cockpit, and that in the days after the incident authorities released increasingly significant details about the cockpit, the injuries sustained and the investigation under way. [ 2 ]
Emirates 24|7 reported that the General Civil Aviation Authority began monitoring the incident and opened an investigation, while the Federal Public Prosecution also acted, with Attorney-General Counsellor Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi ordering the formation of a specialised investigation team. The public prosecution announced that what happened was an attempt to carry out a terrorist act, and said the investigation was continuing to uncover all motives and connections. [ 3 ]
After Captain Smit Machchhar returned to the UAE, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, visited him, checked on his health and affirmed that he had the full appreciation and praise of the UAE’s leadership, Emirates 24|7 reported. [ 3 ]
Arabian Business reported earlier that investigations were continuing into the flydubai flight to Tel Aviv that was forced into an emergency landing, which it said took place on Wednesday. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The case is being handled by UAE federal prosecutors as an attempted terrorist act, turning an in-flight emergency on an Israel-bound flight into a security investigation with regional attention. The sequence of altitude changes and transponder codes raises aviation-security questions for flights on this route, though the documents give no detail on the motive or on any wider connections under investigation.
Key facts
- flydubai flight FZ1073 was bound for Tel Aviv, left Dubai on September 30 and diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an in-flight emergency. [ 1 , 2 ]
- UAE prosecutors say the co-pilot attempted to carry out a terrorist act. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The aircraft transmitted the 7700 general-emergency code at 09:28 UAE time and the 7500 unlawful-interference code at 09:35. [ 2 ]
- Tabuk air traffic controllers received a distress call at 09:44 UAE time, equal to 08:44 Saudi time, and the aircraft landed safely at Tabuk at 10:45 UAE time. [ 2 ]
- The General Civil Aviation Authority opened an investigation, and Attorney-General Counsellor Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi ordered a specialised investigation team. [ 3 ]
- Emirates 24|7 reported that Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited Captain Smit Machchhar after his return to the UAE. [ 3 ]
- Arabian Business reported that investigations were continuing. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The flight involved was flydubai flight FZ1073 to Tel Aviv, which left Dubai on September 30 and diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an in-flight emergency. [ 1 , 2 ]
- UAE prosecutors say the co-pilot attempted to carry out a terrorist act. [ 2 , 3 ]
- UAE authorities are investigating the incident, including a specialised prosecution team ordered by the Attorney-General of the UAE. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- What happened inside the cockpit and the motive for the incident. Gulf News said flight-tracking data does not by itself establish what was happening inside the cockpit, and Emirates 24|7 said the investigation is continuing to uncover all motives and connections.
- The injuries referred to in the coverage. Gulf News says authorities released details about “the injuries sustained”, but the article text available does not say who was injured or how seriously, and no other document gives details.
- The captain’s name and the Crown Prince’s visit to him. Both are reported by a single outlet, Emirates 24|7, and are not confirmed by any other document.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Flight FZ1073 departs Dubai International Airport for Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv and climbs to approximately 34,000 feet, according to Flightradar24 data cited by Gulf News. [ 2 ]
- The aircraft begins a pronounced descent, followed by a sharp climb and another steep descent, reaching about 15,000 feet by roughly 09:33. [ 2 ]
- The aircraft transmits 7700, the international transponder code for a general emergency, while flying near the Saudi-Jordanian border. [ 2 ]
- The transponder changes to 7500, the code for unlawful interference; the aircraft turns west, briefly enters Jordanian airspace and turns back towards Saudi Arabia. [ 2 ]
- Air traffic controllers in Tabuk receive a distress call from FZ1073 requesting an emergency landing; this corresponds to 08:44 Saudi time. [ 2 ]
- FZ1073 lands safely at Tabuk after being diverted. [ 2 ]