FlyDubai co-pilot used crash ax to attempt terrorist act, UAE says

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   UAE Classifies FlyDubai Co-Pilot's Cockpit Attack as Terrorist Act

   UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi formally classified a midair attack on Flydubai flight FZ1073 as a terrorist act. During a Wednesday flight to Tel Aviv, the co-pilot used a cockpit crash ax to attack the captain and attempt to seize aircraft controls. The plane plunged more than 17,000 feet before crew and passengers overpowered the assailant, leading to a diversion to Saudi Arabia. Investigators are now determining the co-pilot's motives and any external links, while Israeli sources suggest the target was Ben Gurion Airport.

   Why it matters

   The incident exposes potential aviation security gaps regarding pilot screening and cockpit safety. The use of a standard emergency crash ax as a weapon bypasses traditional security checks for prohibited items.

   What is confirmed

   • UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi formally classified the incident on Flydubai flight FZ1073 as a terrorist act.
   • The co-pilot attacked the captain on the flight deck using a crash ax to attempt to take control of the aircraft.
   • The Israel-bound flight was diverted to Saudi Arabia.
   • A crash ax is a standard safety requirement kept in plane cockpits for emergency use.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Australian authorities are investigating the co-pilot's links to Australia.

   What to watch next

   • Results of the UAE investigation into external links or co-conspirators.
   • Official identification and nationality confirmation of the co-pilot.
   • Responses from aviation security regulators regarding cockpit weapon accessibility.
   Sources used for this update (18)

   1. Reuters — Israel-bound flight diverted to Saudi Arabia after brawl between pilots, Israeli official says
   2. The New York Times — Why Were 4 Pilots Aboard FlyDubai Flight 1073?
   3. WSJ — FlyDubai Co-Pilot Used Crash Ax in Attack, Says U.A.E.
   4. NBC News — Flydubai pilot attacked captain with cockpit’s crash axe in attempted terrorist attack, UAE says
   5. www.nbcnews.com — Flydubai pilot attacked captain with cockpit’s crash axe in attempted terrorist attack, UAE official says
   6. The Washington Post — FlyDubai copilot used crash ax to attempt ‘terrorist act,’ UAE says
   7. AP News — Who are the mystery men who stepped in to keep the FlyDubai plane from crashing?
   8. The Economist — World in Brief: UAE calls plane drama “terrorist act”; Russia says foreigners should leave Ukraine
   9. The Jerusalem Post — CAM weekly antisemitism report – Israeli heroism inspires antisemitic conspiracy tirade
   10. BBC — Australian authorities investigating Flydubai co-pilot's links to country
   11. www.onenewspage.com — FlyDubai co-pilot attack - One News Page
   12. www.yahoo.com — Flydubai co-pilot planned to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport or building, reports say
   confidence 90%