The Flydubai co-pilot attack aboard flight FZ1073 was an attempted terrorist attack, according to the UAE Prosecutor General, marking the first time Emirati investigators have publicly characterised the cockpit incident in those terms. The investigation into the suspect’s motive remains ongoing. Prosecutor General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the co-pilot attacked the captain inside the cockpit with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft. Crash axes are emergency equipment typically kept inside cockpits.

The flight was travelling from the United Arab Emirates to Israel when the incident occurred. More than 170 passengers and crew were aboard, with most passengers identified as Israeli nationals. Passengers and crew eventually subdued the co-pilot, averting a potentially catastrophic outcome. A reserve Flydubai pilot who was travelling aboard the aircraft subsequently took control and safely landed the plane at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities detained the co-pilot before he was later transferred to Abu Dhabi.

Flydubai Co-Pilot Identity Emerges As UAE Probe Continues

Flydubai co-pilot Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national, was identified by two sources with knowledge of the investigation, though UAE authorities have not publicly confirmed his identity. The UAE is leading the formal investigation into flight FZ1073, examining the circumstances, the suspect’s motive and any related connections. Authorities said the findings will be announced after the necessary investigative procedures are completed.

Flydubai said the circumstances surrounding the incident remained under investigation and that it could not provide further comment. The airline’s chief executive had earlier described what happened aboard FZ1073 as a cockpit “safety incident.Flight-tracking data cited by Reuters showed the aircraft descended around 16,625 feet in slightly more than 30 seconds during the incident. Despite the sudden descent and cockpit attack, the aircraft landed safely without a crash