Reuters reported new allegations that the flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking his captain on a Dubai-Tel Aviv service had also considered hijacking and crashing an earlier flight to Tel Aviv. The fresh details relate to the September incident involving flydubai flight FZ1073, which was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia after the cockpit assault and emergency intervention by crew and passengers.
A source briefed on the UAE investigation said the co-pilot had operated an earlier Tel Aviv flight and abandoned plans to seize it because he knew someone onboard. Two Israeli officials with knowledge of the probe also said he told UAE interrogators that he had planned the attack before joining flydubai and had searched for airlines serving Tel Aviv.
The new claims deepen the focus on premeditation in a case already being treated as an attempted crash. UAE authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, while Israeli officials have questioned the suspect as part of the wider probe. The flight carried more than 170 passengers and crew and landed safely after the reserve crew aboard took control of the aircraft.