Investigators say co-pilot had planned attack earlier
According to Israeli sources, the suspect wanted to crash a flight bound for Tel Aviv.
Follow-up to: Australia investigates Flydubai co-pilot’s past Monday, 5 October 2026, 04:09
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The suspect in the cockpit attack on a Flydubai flight had allegedly planned an attack before joining the airline, according to investigators. Israeli officials say he wanted to crash the aircraft near Tel Aviv; an earlier investigation into his stay in Australia found no link with the incident.
The new information comes from an investigation by the United Arab Emirates, Israel and other countries involved. According to two Israeli officials familiar with the investigation, the co-pilot said he had already had the plan before he started working for Flydubai. A third source briefed on the investigation said Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv was the target.
The same source says the man had already operated a flight to Tel Aviv earlier this year and had then planned to hijack the aircraft and crash it. It is unclear why he did not carry out that plan at the time. The source said he may have known someone on board, but that has not been independently confirmed.
The claims are not supported by a fully public investigation report. The sources spoke anonymously because they were not authorised to discuss the ongoing investigation. The authorities in the Emirates and Israel, and Flydubai, did not respond immediately to questions about the new information, according to Reuters.
The incident itself took place last week on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to earlier reports, the co-pilot attacked the captain, after which passengers and crew intervened and the aircraft diverted to Saudi Arabia. The United Arab Emirates has classified the case as a terrorist incident, but the precise circumstances and motives are still being investigated.
Australian authorities are also investigating the period during which the suspect stayed in Australia. In that earlier investigation, police had reportedly found no link between his stay there and the attack. The new allegations do, however, broaden the international scope of the security investigation.
For aviation, the case means that not only the security of passengers and baggage, but also the screening and monitoring of cockpit crew, will come under renewed scrutiny. It is still too early to say whether existing procedures were breached or what measures might follow.
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The text clearly distinguishes between confirmed events and new allegations from anonymous sources. No unconfirmed motives or findings of guilt are presented as fact.
- confirmed The co-pilot allegedly planned the attack before joining the airline. — Reported by Reuters on the basis of two Israeli officials and a third source. source
- confirmed The intended target was allegedly Ben Gurion near Tel Aviv. — Attributed to a source briefed on the investigation. source
- uncertain The earlier flight to Tel Aviv was allegedly also part of a plan. — From an anonymous source; not independently confirmed. source
- confirmed Passengers and crew intervened and the aircraft diverted to Saudi Arabia. — Described by AP in earlier reporting on the incident. source
Editor's note
The new allegations come largely from anonymous sources close to the investigation and have not yet been publicly confirmed by official documents. The earlier incident and the international investigations have, however, been described by multiple sources.Sources
- Co-pilot planned flydubai attack before hired by airline, two Israeli officials say — Reuters via Investing.com
- FACT FOCUS: What's known about the FlyDubai attack probe — Associated Press
- FlyDubai co-pilot who nearly crashed plane was barred from flying by Oman — Associated Press
The story so far
- Thursday, 1 October 2026, 19:03 Netanyahu links cockpit incident to radicalisation
- Friday, 2 October 2026, 13:05 Israel begins repatriation flights after cockpit incident
- Saturday, 3 October 2026, 02:14 ABC: Flydubai co-pilot previously suspended after safety concerns
- Saturday, 3 October 2026, 09:19 UAE call Flydubai incident terrorist attack
- Saturday, 3 October 2026, 11:19 Emirates describe co-pilot’s attack as terrorist act
- Sunday, 4 October 2026, 21:00 Omani co-pilot named as suspect in Flydubai incident
- Monday, 5 October 2026, 04:09 Australia investigates Flydubai co-pilot’s past
- Monday, 5 October 2026, 17:43 Investigation: co-pilot wanted to crash aircraft
- Monday, 5 October 2026, 18:43 Investigators say co-pilot had planned attack earlier (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „flydubai luchtvaart”
- NU.nl — „flydubai luchtvaart”
- De Telegraaf — „flydubai luchtvaart”