The flydubai pilot who attacked his captain and is suspected of attempting to crash the aircraft allegedly planned to hijack and crash an earlier flight to Tel Aviv but decided against it, according to a source briefed on the UAE investigation, cited by Reuters.
According to Reuters, a source with knowledge of the UAE investigation, said the co-pilot had operated a flight to Tel Aviv earlier this year and had allegedly intended to hijack and crash the aircraft.The source said he decided against doing so because he knew someone onboard the flight.Two Israeli officials also told Reuters that the flydubai pilot had planned the attack before joining the carrier and had searched for airlines that fly to Tel Aviv.
A flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Saudi Arabia on September 30, 2026, after transmitting emergency transponder codes, including one used to indicate unlawful interference with an aircraft.The first officer attacked the captain with an axe located in the cockpit for emergency use.