In brief
A flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was narrowly averted from catastrophic hijacking after the co‑pilot, an Omani national, struck the captain with an axe and threatened to crash the Boeing 737‑MAX into Ben Gurion airport or a central tower. U.S. and Israeli officials say the pilot intended a 9/11‑style attack. The UAE attorney‑general confirmed the attempt and called it a terrorist act, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the crew for preventing a disaster. The case has raised urgent questions about aviation security checks, cross‑border passenger lists, and the co‑pilot’s ties to Australia.
An evening flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was interrupted last Wednesday when a flydubai co‑pilot, an Omani national, struck the captain with the cockpit’s emergency crash axe and threatened to hijack the aircraft and crash it into Ben Gurion airport or a central Tel Aviv tower block.
U.S. and Israeli officials say the man attacked the captain, was overpowered by passengers, and that a second crew member helped land the plane safely in Saudi Arabia. The UAE attorney‑general called the incident a terrorist act and confirmed the co‑pilot’s extremist intent.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the captain, passengers and crew for preventing a “9/11‑style” disaster, while the UAE’s minister of transport said the investigation would uncover the full circumstances and any links to foreign organisations.
Officials revealed that the co‑pilot had previously worked for Oman Air before being moved to an administrative role due to concerns about his extremist views. He was later hired by flydubai after a standard security check that reportedly missed his radicalisation history. Israeli aviation rules normally bar pilots from countries without diplomatic ties – like Oman – from operating flights to Israel, raising questions about how he received clearance.
Australian authorities are probing the co‑pilot’s background, as he studied in Australia from 2015 to 2017. The incident has spurred calls for a comprehensive review of foreign civil aviation security protocols heading into Israel.
