UAE prosecutor says Flydubai co-pilot plotted suicide attack on Ben Gurion airport
UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said on Friday that an investigation into Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on 30 September 2026, found that the first officer, an Omani national, had begun carrying out a premeditated terrorist plot. According to prosecutors, the plan was to take control of the aircraft and use it in a suicide attack on the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion airport. BBC Arabic, citing the UAE-led inquiry, reported that the suspect drew inspiration from the 9/11 attacks in the United States.
Why it matters
The case touches on aviation security at Dubai, one of the world's busiest air travel hubs, so travelers and airlines across the region will be watching the investigation closely. The suspect's nationality and the flight's destination, both cited in the official announcement, give the case a sensitive regional dimension.
Background
Flydubai is a Dubai-based airline, and Ben Gurion is Israel's main international airport, near Tel Aviv. The UAE attorney general's statement announces the findings of an investigation into an incident involving a flight between the two cities.
How outlets covered it
CNN Arabic focused on the UAE attorney general's announcement, quoting him as describing a plot "with a terrorist purpose prepared in advance" aimed at a suicide attack on the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion airport. BBC Arabic, in the text provided, highlighted the origin of the idea, attributing to the UAE-led investigation the claim that the co-pilot drew inspiration from the September 11 attacks. Sky News Arabia, in the text provided, framed the announcement as an update on the investigation and specified the flight number and date. The material shows no contradiction among the three outlets on the core facts; they differ in which details each emphasized.
How outlets headlined it
This is a brief summary. The full details and context are in the original coverage.
Read the full story at CNN بالعربيةFollow the story
- UAE prosecutor says flydubai co-pilot planned a terrorist act
- UAE prosecutor says Flydubai co-pilot plotted suicide attack on Ben Gurion airport
In this story:UAE
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