Flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia after a cockpit assault that left the captain injured and the aircraft safely on the ground. The UAE prosecutor general later said the co-pilot used a crash axe against the captain and tried to take control of the plane, describing the incident as an attempted terrorist attack.
The latest statement sharpened the official account of the 30 September event, which had already been treated as an attempted hijack or crash bid by Israeli and other media. The aircraft landed safely with passengers and crew accounted for, while the wounded captain, identified in reports as Indian national Smit Machchhar, was able to open the cockpit door and help end the threat.
The suspect has been described in multiple reports as an Omani national, but his identity has not been formally disclosed in the public record. Investigators are still examining the motive, along with physical and digital evidence, and have not released a final finding.
The case has drawn close attention in aviation security circles because it involved an onboard weapon, a direct assault inside the cockpit and a brief loss-of-control scenario on a scheduled international flight. The aircraft was operating a Dubai-Tel Aviv service when the disturbance unfolded over Saudi airspace, forcing an emergency landing in Tabuk. The passengers were later transferred onward on a replacement flight, while the crew received medical attention and clearance to travel.