THE co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073, which was bound for Israel, attempted to carry out a "terrorist attack" during the flight, the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general confirmed on Saturday, according to the state news agency WAM.
The co-pilot was identified as Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter who spoke to Reuters. A second source briefed on the investigation confirmed the co-pilot's name, though UAE authorities did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation of his identity.
Foreign news agencies cite today that while Emirati authorities have not publicly named the co-pilot, Israeli officials previously identified him as an Omani national. Oman has not commented on the incident.
"Investigations into the incident involving flydubai flight FZ1073 found that the co-pilot had attempted to carry out a terrorist attack," WAM quoted UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi as saying.
The co-pilot attacked the captain inside the cockpit with a crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft, the prosecutor general stated. A crash axe is standard equipment kept inside the cockpit for emergency use.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the incident, the motives, and any related connections, as well as to examine physical and digital evidence, Al Shamsi added. The UAE is leading the investigation into the state-owned Dubai airline.
The prosecutor general's comments mark the first time Emirati authorities have officially described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack.
Disaster was averted on Wednesday after passengers and crew managed to subdue the co-pilot, who had attacked the captain in what Israeli officials described as an apparent attempt to crash the plane carrying more than 170 passengers and crew, most of whom were Israeli nationals.
A off-duty reserve flydubai pilot travelling as a passenger took control of the aircraft and landed it safely at Tabuk airport in north-western Saudi Arabia, where the co-pilot was detained by Saudi authorities.
The captain and co-pilot left Saudi Arabia for Abu Dhabi on Thursday morning after receiving medical clearance, according to the Saudi Interior Ministry.
A flydubai spokesperson stated that the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation and that the airline was not in a position to comment further.
A source briefed on the investigation told Reuters on Friday that Israeli officials were expected to question the co-pilot in the UAE. An Israeli government official confirmed that Israeli investigators would participate alongside Emirati authorities in the UAE-led probe to determine what happened and examine the suspect's background.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Friday that Israel was investigating whether the co-pilot had acted under external direction, warning that anyone involved would pay a "heavy price".
Netanyahu stated on Thursday that the co-pilot had undergone radical Islamist indoctrination, without providing further details, and appeared suicidal, though he noted that a firm motive had not yet been established.
Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 revealed that the aircraft dropped approximately 16,625 feet in just over 30 seconds while flying over Saudi Arabia during its journey from the UAE to Israel. - October 3, 2026
