Flydubai co-pilot used crash axe to attack captain, says UAE

A co-pilot aboard a flydubai passenger jet used an emergency crash axe to assault the captain in what authorities described as an attempted terrorist act, officials in the United Arab Emirates announced on Saturday.

The incident occurred Wednesday aboard flight FZ1073, which was traveling toward Israel with 182 people on board. According to statements from the UAE prosecutor general carried by state media, the co-pilot attempted to seize control of the aircraft during the flight. The altercation caused the plane to enter a steep descent, nearly resulting in a catastrophic crash before crew members and passengers managed to intervene, overpower the suspect, and regain control of the aircraft.

The airliner subsequently conducted an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, showing visible damage to its tail section. Both the injured captain and the suspect were later transferred to the UAE, which is heading an international inquiry into the event with assistance from several regional states, Israel, the United States, and European partners.

The severely injured captain recounted that while under attack, he managed to use his remaining strength to unlock the cockpit door. That action allowed individuals outside the flight deck, who had heard disturbances inside, to enter, restrain the co-pilot, and stabilize the flight path.

Questions have rapidly emerged regarding how the suspect was permitted to fly. A person familiar with the probe disclosed that the co-pilot had previously been banned from flying duties in neighboring Oman due to suspicions that he held extremist beliefs. He had formerly flown for Oman Air before being reassigned to an administrative role over those security concerns, yet he was subsequently employed by the UAE carrier flydubai. It remains uncertain what level of background vetting took place prior to his hiring.

According to a regional official familiar with the inquiry, the suspect was born in the UAE to a Syrian mother. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Friday that the individual had experienced Islamist radicalization, though he provided no specific evidence. Meanwhile, Anwar Gargash, a senior diplomatic adviser in the UAE, characterized the assault as a perilous act of terror.

Investigators across four regional nations, bolstered by Western intelligence agencies, are actively examining the suspect's background and motives. Records indicate his Instagram account remained active until the day the flight departed, after which it was deleted. Air safety and intelligence authorities are now heavily scrutinizing airline hiring protocols and vetting standards across the region.