The Public Prosecution of the United Arab Emirates confirms the terrorist attack on board a Flydubai aircraft

The United Arab Emirates Prosecutor’s Office confirmed on Saturday that the incident that occurred on Wednesday aboard flight FZ1073, operated by Flydubai on the Dubai–Tel Aviv route, was a terrorist attack. According to investigators, the co-pilot attacked the pilot in the cockpit using an emergency axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft.

The Emirati Prosecutor’s Office said the action was intended to carry out a terrorist attack. The incident is being investigated to establish the exact circumstances, motives and any possible links involving the suspect, as well as to analyze physical and digital evidence.

The emergency axe is equipment kept in an aircraft’s cabin, intended for use by the crew to cut evacuation routes through the fuselage or cabin panels in the event of an accident.

United Arab Emirates Attorney General Hamad Saif al Shamsi announced that the investigation is ongoing. A source cited by Reuters identified the co-pilot as Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani citizen.