Flydubai has become the focus of a security investigation after a first officer on flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv allegedly planned an attack on Ben Gurion Airport and stabbed the captain during a violent cockpit confrontation. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia after crew and passengers intervened, preventing what Israeli officials described as a possible attempt to seize control of the aircraft.
Later reporting on 5 October indicated that the suspect may have told investigators he had scoped out Ben Gurion Airport months earlier and intended to kill the captain before continuing the flight into Israel. The account strengthened earlier suspicions that the incident was more than a spontaneous cockpit altercation and raised the prospect of prior planning.
The case has prompted Flydubai to suspend services to and from Israel while the investigation continues. It has also triggered security reviews in Israel over pilots operating routes into the country, particularly on flights bound for Tel Aviv. The injured captain returned to the UAE after receiving medical clearance, while Saudi authorities in Tabuk continued questioning the suspect. The exact motive and any formal charges have not been made public.