An Omani co-pilot on a flydubai flight scheduled to travel from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30 had planned to seize control of the aircraft and crash it into a terminal at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport in a suicide attack before he was thwarted by the captain, said media reports citing the UAE attorney-general.

The 29-year-old suspect had begun implementing a premeditated plot aimed at causing the greatest possible loss of life, stated Hamad Saif Al Shamsi while citing the findings from the investigation into flight FZ1073.

Investigators traced the suspect's radicalisation to 2017, when he was studying in Australia. He was influenced by extremist literature and online material glorifying militant organisations and suicide attacks, the attorney-general was quoted as saying by Wam.

The suspect later adopted beliefs advocating violence and terrorism and became inspired by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the US. According to his confession, the idea of carrying out a similar attack using an aircraft became firmly established in his thinking and was linked to his decision to pursue a career in aviation, he stated.

The suspect worked for Oman Air from 2020 to 2024, joined Royal Air Maroc in early 2025 and moved to flydubai in January 2026, he said.

Investigators examined flydubai's recruiting procedures and found the suspect had met all professional and security requirements, including holding a pilot's licence and providing a certificate of good conduct.

"However, none of the procedures revealed any indications of his extremist views or his intention to carry out a terrorist ​plot," Al Shamsi added.

The Attorney General's statement did not ​appear to implicate flydubai in any wrongdoing, and contained the most detailed account yet from prosecutors ​about what they believe to have happened, reported Reuters.

The investigations team found the suspect had used two previous flights to Tel Aviv ​to "familiarise himself with the flight route and the airport. It is the first public confirmation of the co-pilot's 9/11 inspiration.

The aircraft was in Saudi airspace when the co-pilot attacked the captain with a crash axe, typically kept ​in the cockpit for use during emergencies, stated the report.

He told investigators that, while studying in Melbourne, he regularly attended a mosque affiliated with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). Through these visits, he became acquainted with individuals associated with a centre known as "My Centre". 

The suspect revealed that the centre was managed by a Lebanese man known as "Abu Hamza" and received support from an association linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.

He also admitted that he had prepared himself both psychologically and physically to carry out the plot by intensifying his exposure to material promoting terrorism and training in boxing under a private coach.

On the day of the incident, the suspect allegedly took the aircraft’s captain by surprise inside the cockpit and attacked him with an emergency axe. The captain resisted the assault and attempted to call for help, said the Attorney General citing the probe findings.

A pilot assigned to the return flight was also on board and happened to be near the cockpit when the attack occurred. He noticed the cockpit door opening and closing repeatedly in an unusual manner, which aroused his suspicions. He approached the cockpit and attempted to enter using the access code. After gaining entry, he witnessed the suspect attacking the captain.

He immediately intervened with the assistance of a cabin crew member and several passengers, and together they rescued the injured captain and restrained the suspect. Meanwhile, the return-flight captain and his co-pilot regained control of the aircraft, diverted its route and landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.

The suspect provided a detailed confession in the presence of his lawyer with all legal safeguards in place, outlining his motives and the stages of planning and execution. 

He admitted that he had acted alone, without the involvement of others, although investigations are continuing to verify this claim, said the Wam report.

Prosecutors also took statements from the injured captain, the return-flight pilot, his co-pilot and crew members.

A forensic medical report found that the captain had sustained recent injuries to the head, which were consistent with an assault involving an implement resembling an emergency axe. The findings were consistent with statements from the suspect and captain, as well as witness accounts, the statement said.

The Public Prosecution is continuing to examine evidence, investigate possible accomplices or other connections, and review recordings and technical reports. Further findings will be announced as appropriate, the attorney-general said, it added.