Overview
Emirati investigators have concluded that the co-pilot on flydubai flight FZ1073 attempted to carry out a "terrorist attack" during a flight bound for Israel, the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general said in an official statement. The incident unfolded inside the cockpit when the co-pilot attacked the captain with a crash axe and tried to seize control of the aircraft, according to the prosecutor general.
What happened on board
The flight, operating as FZ1073, was carrying more than 170 passengers and crew when the assault took place. UAE authorities say the co-pilot attacked the pilot inside the cockpit with a crash axe - an item that is normally stored in the cockpit for use during emergencies such as a crash. The assault prompted passengers and crew to intervene; they were able to subdue the co-pilot and prevent further harm.
A reserve flydubai pilot who was travelling on the flight assumed control of the aircraft and diverted it to Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where Saudi authorities detained the co-pilot. The suspect was subsequently transferred from Saudi Arabia to Abu Dhabi.
Identity and background of the suspect
Two sources briefed on the matter identified the co-pilot as Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national. Emirati authorities and the airline had not immediately verified his identity in their public statements. Royal Air Maroc told Reuters that the individual had completed a three-month training program with the carrier in 2025 but that his subsequent application to work there was rejected; the airline did not provide additional details.
Official statements and investigation
Prosecutor General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the investigation had found that the co-pilot had attempted to carry out a terrorist attack. He noted that inquiries into the motivations behind the incident remain under way and that the findings will be released after the "necessary procedures" are completed. The UAE is leading the investigation. The airline itself is owned by the government of Dubai.
Following the prosecutor general's statement, Anwar Gargash, a senior adviser to the UAE president, posted on X that the country has zero tolerance for terrorism and will show no leniency toward extremist rhetoric.
Flydubai has said the circumstances are still the subject of investigation and that it cannot comment further at this stage. In initial public remarks, flydubai Chief Executive Ghaith al Ghaith described the event as a "safety incident" and confirmed that the flight was diverted due to a problem inside the cockpit.
International cooperation and expected questioning
Authorities indicated that Israeli investigators would take part alongside Emirati officials in the UAE-led probe. A source familiar with the investigation said Israeli officials were expected to question the co-pilot in the UAE, but declined to specify which Israeli agency or authority would be involved.
Israeli officials have previously said the co-pilot is an Omani national. Oman has not issued a comment on the matter. Israel does not maintain official diplomatic relations with Oman, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously stated that pilots from countries without such relations were not permitted to operate flights to Israel. It remained unclear from public statements how the co-pilot came to be assigned to the flight to Tel Aviv.
Reaction from Israeli leadership and flight data
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said authorities were probing whether the co-pilot had acted under someone elses direction and warned that anyone involved would pay a "heavy price". Israeli officials had earlier described the co-pilot's actions as an apparent attempt to crash the aircraft carrying mainly Israeli travellers.
Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 showed the aircraft dropped about 16,625 feet in just over 30 seconds while flying over Saudi Arabia on its route from the UAE to Israel. The route is a commonly used one for travellers to Israel.
Status of the suspect and next steps
The co-pilot was detained by Saudi authorities after the aircraft landed in Tabuk and later transferred to Abu Dhabi. Emirati officials have indicated that the investigation into the incident and the suspect's motives is continuing and that further information will be disclosed once procedural steps have been completed.
Investigators from the UAE and Israel are expected to participate in the inquiry, though the precise nature of Israel's involvement has not been publicly specified by the authorities cited.
Operational and passenger context
Flydubai described the event as a safety incident and said it could not provide additional comment while investigations continue. Most of the passengers on the flight were Israeli nationals, according to statements from officials. The flight had more than 170 people on board when the disruption occurred.
At this stage, investigators are focused on establishing the reasons behind the co-pilot's actions and completing the legal and investigative procedures overseen by the UAE. The prosecutor general has framed the episode as a thwarted act of terrorism, and Emirati leaders have emphasized a no-tolerance stance toward extremist actions and rhetoric.