UAE Says Flydubai Co-Pilot Planned Airport Attack as Israel Refuses Flights

The incident occurred on September 30 aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. An Omani co-pilot planned to seize the aircraft and crash it into a terminal at Israel's Ben Gurion airport, but was thwarted by his fellow pilot, according to the UAE account reported by South China Morning Post.

Indian Express identified the captain attacked in the cockpit as Indian captain Smit Machchhar. What initially emerged as a cockpit attack is now being described by UAE authorities as a planned suicide attack.

On October 7, News18 reported that Flydubai had asked Israeli authorities for permission to restart its Tel Aviv services. The airline said its investigation into the incident was nearing completion. Indian Express reported that Israel refused the request.

On October 8, Indian Express reported on Saudi Arabia's safety probe alongside the UAE's criminal case. Those are separate strands of the response: an aviation safety investigation and a criminal proceeding.

Also on October 8, Hindustan Times reported that Israel's visa-free US travel privileges could be at risk following the incident. The supplied coverage does not establish that those privileges have been changed.

On October 9, the UAE attorney general said the alleged hijacker planned to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion airport, Sky News reported. Arab News reported the UAE Attorney General's confirmation that the co-pilot was an Omani national.

Further details published that day described advance preparation. TGcom24 reported investigators' finding that the 29-year-old had used two previous Tel Aviv flights to reconnoitre the route and airport. According to Franceinfo, the prosecutor general said the co-pilot was inspired by the September 11 attacks and had stated that he acted alone.

The latest supplied reporting gives a more serious account of the alleged intent, but no subsequent approval for Flydubai to resume Tel Aviv flights. Israel's refusal remains the last reported decision on the airline's request, according to Indian Express.

The planned crash and the claim that the co-pilot acted alone are accounts attributed to UAE authorities, not a court judgment in the supplied coverage. Indian Express reported both claims on October 9.

The unresolved issues are whether Israel will reconsider the flight request and what the separate investigations establish. Flydubai's statement that its investigation was nearing completion, reported by News18, does not itself establish that the Saudi safety probe or UAE criminal case has concluded.

The possible effect on Israel's visa-free US travel privileges also remains unresolved. Hindustan Times reported a risk to those privileges, but the supplied coverage contains no confirmed US decision.