UAE prosecutor says flydubai co-pilot planned suicide attack on airport
In short
The UAE's attorney general said a flydubai co-pilot tried to crash flight FZ1073 into a terminal at Israel's Ben Gurion airport on September 30, Chinese outlets reported. China News Service reported that crew and passengers subdued the suspect and the aircraft was diverted safely to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
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The UAE's attorney general said on October 9 that a flydubai co-pilot had planned to crash flight FZ1073 into a passenger terminal at Israel's Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv in a suicide attack intended to cause as many casualties as possible. Chinese outlets reported the prosecutor's account of the investigation. He identified the suspect as a 29-year-old Omani man and said the attempt took place on September 30. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The prosecutor said the suspect had used two earlier flights to Tel Aviv to familiarise himself with the route and airport before attempting the plan on his third assignment on that route. China News Service reported that preparations included watching material inciting terrorism and taking boxing training with a private coach. The investigation found that the suspect had begun adopting extremist ideas while studying in Australia in 2017 and had been influenced by the September 11 attacks, the prosecutor said. [ 2 , 3 ]
On the day of the incident, the suspect attacked the captain's head with an emergency axe in the cockpit, according to the account reported by China News Service. The captain resisted and tried to seek help. Another captain aboard for the return flight noticed unusual cockpit-door activity and entered, then subdued the suspect with help from a crew member and several passengers. The return-flight captain and co-pilot regained control, diverted the aircraft and landed safely at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia. [ 3 ]
The prosecutor said the suspect had met all professional and security-screening requirements when hired and that no signs of extremist tendencies or an attack plan had been found. He said the suspect gave a detailed statement with a lawyer present and admitted acting alone. Prosecutors were still investigating whether accomplices or other connections existed, China News Service reported. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The prosecutor described a plan intended to cause as many casualties as possible. He said the suspect had met professional and security-screening requirements when hired, while investigators were still examining whether accomplices or other connections existed.
Key facts
- The UAE attorney general said on October 9 that a 29-year-old Omani co-pilot had planned a suicide attack using flight FZ1073. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The intended target was the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, according to the prosecutor. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The prosecutor said the suspect used two previous flights to learn the route and airport before trying to carry out the plan on September 30. [ 2 , 3 ]
- China News Service reported that the suspect attacked the captain with an emergency axe and was subdued with help from crew and passengers. [ 3 ]
- The aircraft was diverted and landed safely at Tabuk airport, China News Service reported. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The prosecutor described an alleged suicide-attack plan targeting a Ben Gurion airport terminal. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The prosecutor identified the suspect as a 29-year-old Omani co-pilot. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The prosecutor said the attempt occurred on September 30 after two earlier flights on the route. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the suspect had accomplices or other connections remained under investigation. The prosecutor said the suspect admitted acting alone in a statement made with a lawyer present, but inquiries were continuing.