UAE Says Flydubai Co-Pilot Used Crash Axe in Terror Attempt

United Arab Emirates prosecutors say a flydubai co-pilot attacked the captain with a cockpit crash axe and attempted to take control of a Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

The September 30 incident aboard flight FZ1073 forced the crew to divert to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the aircraft landed safely. All 172 passengers and crew survived, although crew members sustained injuries and required hospital treatment.

UAE Attorney-General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said the investigation had determined that the co-pilot began carrying out what authorities described as a terrorist act during the flight. According to the statement published by the Emirates News Agency, the co-pilot used the aircraft’s crash axe to attack the captain before attempting to seize the flight controls.

Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances, motive and any connections associated with the attack. Technical work includes the analysis of physical and digital evidence, with the UAE authorities saying final findings will follow once the required procedures are complete.

Other flydubai pilots secured the aircraft

FZ1073 departed Dubai International (DXB) for Tel Aviv Ben Gurion (TLV) on the morning of September 30. The flight was being operated by Boeing 737 MAX 8 A6-FKF, according to flight and aircraft data published by Flightradar24.

The aircraft climbed to 34,000 feet after leaving Dubai. Its flight path later showed rapid altitude changes near the Saudi-Jordanian border, followed by a turn toward Tabuk. The transponder changed from the general emergency code 7700 to 7500, the code for unlawful interference, before returning to 7700 during the diversion.

flydubai said an altercation occurred on the flight deck and that on-duty company crew members traveling aboard the flight secured the aircraft. The airline subsequently credited the captain and the additional pilots with bringing the situation under control and landing safely at Tabuk (TUU).

That sequence made the presence of qualified flight crew traveling as passengers decisive. The airline has not set out the precise division of duties during the diversion, but its account confirms that pilots outside the originally assigned cockpit pairing reached the flight deck, secured the aircraft and completed the emergency landing.

Passengers also assisted the crew during the incident, flydubai Chief Executive Ghaith Al Ghaith said. The captain later returned to the UAE after receiving medical clearance.

Flight diverted to Saudi Arabia

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority initially characterized the event as a security incident that had been brought under control. It said injured crew members were taken to a hospital in Saudi Arabia and opened an investigation covering both operational and security aspects.

Tabuk provided a diversion point on the western side of Saudi Arabia, away from the flight’s planned destination. The aircraft landed safely after the emergency declaration, allowing Saudi authorities and medical teams to respond on the ground.

flydubai sent two replacement aircraft to Tabuk to transport the passengers and relieve the crew. Its response required one aircraft to continue the journey for affected customers and another to support the operational recovery, while the incident aircraft remained in Saudi Arabia.

In its latest series of operational statements, the airline said all 172 people aboard were safe and receiving support. It also thanked Saudi authorities for their response and UAE agencies for helping return the passengers and crew.

Tel Aviv flights suspended

At the request of authorities, flydubai has suspended all services to and from Tel Aviv while the investigation continues. The airline said the measure would remain in place until further notice, with affected passengers being offered support and alternative arrangements where possible.

The suspension takes a scheduled market out of flydubai’s Dubai operation rather than affecting the wider network. Before the route was halted, FZ1073 and its return sector formed part of the carrier’s regular service between DXB and TLV.

The decision gives investigators space to review the attack, flight crew security procedures and the operational response without an immediate resumption of the same service. It also leaves the timing of flydubai’s return to Israel dependent on government clearance rather than solely on commercial scheduling.

Boeing 737 MAX 8 central to flydubai fleet

The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737 MAX 8 powered by two CFM International LEAP-1B engines. The type forms the largest part of flydubai’s narrowbody fleet, making it central to the carrier’s short- and medium-haul network from Dubai.

flydubai’s published fleet information lists 69 Boeing 737 MAX 8s, alongside 25 Boeing 737-800s and four larger Boeing 737 MAX 9s. Its MAX aircraft operate with a two-class cabin, including either reclining or lie-flat Business Class seats depending on the airframe.

Boeing gives the 737 MAX 8 a range of up to 3,500 nautical miles and typical two-class capacity of 160 to 180 passengers. Those capabilities allow flydubai to use a common narrowbody platform across short Gulf sectors and substantially longer services beyond the Middle East. The Dubai-Tel Aviv route sits comfortably inside that operating envelope.

The investigation now extends beyond the handling of the diversion. UAE authorities are examining the planning behind the attack, the co-pilot’s actions, the available physical and digital evidence and any associated links. flydubai has said it is cooperating fully and urged against speculation while that work continues.