Tel Aviv crash claims remain unconfirmed as Flydubai probe continues

US and Israeli media reports, citing unnamed sources, allege the co-pilot accused of attacking the captain aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 planned to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion airport or a tower block in Tel Aviv. Authorities had not publicly confirmed the reported plan.

The flight, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, landed in Saudi Arabia after passengers overpowered the co-pilot. The captain was wounded in an attack with an emergency crash axe, and another crew member landed the aircraft.

The UAE attorney-general described the incident as an attempted “terrorist act” and said the investigation would establish its circumstances, motives and any links. The probe was ongoing, and the co-pilot’s motives and possible connections had not been established.

Australian authorities are also examining the co-pilot’s links to Australia. Local media reported that he studied there between 2015 and 2017; that account was not independently confirmed in the supplied reporting.

The reports also allege he had considered hijacking an earlier Tel Aviv flight but changed his mind because he knew someone aboard. Emirati and Israeli authorities had not immediately commented on those claims.