Flydubai co-pilot joined airline to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport, according to reports

The co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of a flydubai passenger jet allegedly planned to crash an aircraft into Israel before he even joined the airline, according to officials briefed on the investigation.

Investigators believe the Omani co-pilot deliberately sought employment with an airline serving Tel Aviv as part of a plan to attack Israel.

Two Israeli officials with knowledge of the UAE-led investigation told Reuters that the co-pilot said during questioning that he had planned the attack before being hired by flydubai.

The officials said he searched for airlines flying to Tel Aviv before applying to the Dubai-based carrier.

A third source briefed on the investigation said the intended target of the 30 September attack was Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv.

The incident aboard Flight FZ1073 has prompted an inquiry into how the pilot previously reported by AP to have attracted security concerns over alleged extremist views was able to secure a cockpit position and operate flights to Israel.

Co-pilot allegedly considered earlier attack

Investigators also believe the 30 September incident may not have been his first opportunity to carry out the plan.

The co-pilot had previously operated another flydubai flight to Tel Aviv and allegedly intended to seize and crash that aircraft, according to Reuters. He ultimately abandoned that attempt. It is unclear why, although a source briefed on the investigation said he may have known someone on the flight.

Associated Press separately reported that the initial UAE-led investigation found he had originally planned an attack in July but did not carry it out. AP said investigators believe he specifically sought employment with an airline flying to Israel to carry out an attack.

The co-pilot has been identified by multiple sources as Omani national Hammam al-Hammami, although flydubai and UAE authorities have not publicly confirmed his identity.

He remains in UAE custody.

New Zealand confirms previous flight training

The investigation into the co-pilot’s background has now expanded to New Zealand.

New Zealand Police confirmed on Tuesday that he spent almost six months in the country while completing part of his flight training, according to Reuters.

Assistant Commissioner Michael Johnson said immigration records showed that he arrived on 30 November 2018 and left on 23 May 2019 on a six-month student visa.

Police said the training was carried out for a UK-based company that no longer operates in New Zealand.

Authorities are now reviewing records and conducting further enquiries into his time in the country.

Australian authorities are conducting a separate investigation into his previous links to Melbourne. The Australian Federal Police said the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which includes federal and state police and Australia’s domestic intelligence agency, is investigating his links to Australia, according to AP.

Previous security concerns under scrutiny

The investigation is also focusing on the co-pilot’s earlier aviation career and reports that concerns had previously been raised about his views.

AP reported that officials said al-Hammami had previously been barred from flying in Oman because of concerns that he had adopted extremist views. Omani authorities have not publicly detailed the circumstances.

His subsequent attempt to join another airline is also under scrutiny.

Royal Air Maroc told Reuters that al-Hammami underwent three months of training with the Moroccan airline in 2025, but his application to work there was rejected. The airline did not say why.

These findings are likely to increase scrutiny of how security information about pilots is shared between airlines, governments and aviation authorities.

How the flydubai attack unfolded

Flight FZ1073 was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv on 30 September when the co-pilot attacked the captain inside the cockpit.

The UAE Prosecutor General subsequently classified the incident as an attempted terrorist attack and said the co-pilot attacked the captain with an emergency crash axe before attempting to take control of the aircraft.

During the incident, the aircraft plunged more than 16,000ft in just over 30 seconds, according to flight-tracking data.

The wounded captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and overpower the co-pilot.

A passenger initially steadied the aircraft before two off-duty pilots aboard took control, according to witnesses and Israeli officials cited by Reuters.

The aircraft diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. More than 170 passengers and crew were aboard, most of them Israeli.

The suspect was detained by Saudi authorities before being transferred to Abu Dhabi.

Israel investigates how co-pilot was cleared

The case has also triggered questions over Israeli aviation security.

AP reports that Israeli law requires airlines to provide information on passengers and crew, including names and nationalities, up to 48 hours before a flight.

Officials told AP that the UAE had provided Israel with the passenger and crew information for FZ1073 before departure. Israeli authorities had not raised a red flag over anyone aboard.

However, Oman does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had longstanding arrangements with foreign carriers to prevent pilots from countries without diplomatic relations from operating flights into Israel.

It remains unclear how an Omani national was assigned to the flydubai service. Netanyahu has now ordered a review of “all security aspects” of Israeli civil aviation.

There is no confirmed evidence that another state directed the alleged attack.

Israeli security officials told Reuters they had not identified Iranian involvement. AP separately reported that regional officials had found no Iranian nexus. The UAE-led investigation is continuing into the co-pilot’s motives, his background and whether anyone else was involved.