Investigation: co-pilot wanted to crash aircraft
According to Israeli media, the suspect said he wanted to crash the aircraft at Ben-Gurion.
There is news on this story (Monday, 5 October 2026, 18:43): Investigators say co-pilot had planned attack earlier
Follow-up to: Australia investigates Flydubai co-pilot’s past Monday, 5 October 2026, 04:09
The co-pilot of a Flydubai flight is said to have told investigators that, after arriving in Tel Aviv, he wanted to crash the aircraft at Ben-Gurion Airport. The claim comes from Israeli reports and is not supported by a publicly available interrogation record.
According to Australian broadcaster ABC, Israeli media reported that the co-pilot spoke to investigators about a target in Tel Aviv. Ben-Gurion Airport was mentioned, as was a possible other target in the city. The precise wording and the circumstances in which he is said to have made the comment have not been made public.
The United Arab Emirates, Israel and Saudi Arabia are jointly investigating the incident. According to Associated Press, the authorities are provisionally treating the attack as a planned terrorist act. The co-pilot is being held in the United Arab Emirates. A judge has not yet ruled on the allegations.
The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv ran into trouble last week after a pilot was attacked in the cockpit. According to earlier reports, passengers and crew members gained access to the cockpit, after which the aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. All those on board were later able to continue their journey.
The Australian authorities are meanwhile investigating the co-pilot’s time in Australia. Among other things, they are examining whether he may have become radicalised there. According to ABC, the Australian Federal Police have not yet established any link between his stay in the country and the incident on board.
The checks carried out before the flight are also under scrutiny. The United Arab Emirates had provided Israel with information about passengers and crew, but according to AP no warnings about the co-pilot had been reported. Israeli agencies are pointing to one another as responsible for the security screening.
Israeli opposition parties are demanding political consequences, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced an investigation into aviation security. For now, it is clear above all that international procedures and responsibilities did not align properly. The investigation must establish whether the co-pilot’s new statement is reliable and what his motive was.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The new target selection comes from reports about statements by the suspect and has not been publicly confirmed.
- The United Arab Emirates, Israel and Saudi Arabia are investigating the incident.
- Australia is investigating the possible relevance of the co-pilot’s stay in Australia.
Left
Arguments Emphasises that aviation security is not only about individual screening, but also about international cooperation, oversight and holding governments to account.
Values Transparency, legal safeguards and preventing discrimination based on nationality or religion.
Consequences Warns that tighter checks without clear criteria could lead to profiling and less trust in public institutions.
Centre
Arguments Calls for a joint reconstruction of the facts and better information-sharing between airlines, security services and regulators.
Values Thoroughness, proportionality and institutional responsibility.
Consequences Expects mainly procedural changes once it becomes clear where the chain of checks failed.
Right
Arguments Focuses on excluding people regarded as risks by security services and holding agencies that miss warnings to account.
Values National security, order and the protection of passengers.
Consequences Is more willing to accept tighter border and staff checks, even if they make international flight routes more complex or less accessible.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article’s core is supported by recent reporting from ABC and AP. Unconfirmed statements have explicitly been presented as unconfirmed.
- confirmed The co-pilot is said to have named Ben-Gurion Airport as a target. — ABC reports this on the basis of Israeli media; the interrogation record is not public. source
- confirmed Authorities in the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Saudi Arabia are investigating the incident. — Associated Press describes the international security and intelligence operation. source
- confirmed The co-pilot is being held in the United Arab Emirates. — AP reports that the suspect is detained there. source
- confirmed Australia is investigating the co-pilot’s time in the country. — ABC reports an investigation by the Australian Federal Police. source
Editor's note
The newly reported intended choice of target is based on reports about statements by the suspect and has not been independently confirmed by a publicly available interrogation record. The earlier attack, emergency landing and international investigations have been described by multiple sources.Sources
- Flydubai-pilot planned to crash plane into Ben Gurion Airport — ABC News Australia
- A look at what’s being said on the FlyDubai attack — Associated Press
- AFP confirms investigation of FlyDubai co-pilot’s Australian links — ABC News Australia
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 (this article)
- Monday, 5 October 2026, 18:43 Investigators say co-pilot had planned attack earlier
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „flydubai luchtvaartveiligheid”
- NU.nl — „flydubai luchtvaartveiligheid”
- De Telegraaf — „flydubai luchtvaartveiligheid”