What we know

• ■The aircraft diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry said the captain, identified as Smit Machchhar from India, was "assaulted by his co-pilot".2
• ■CNN has named the co-pilot as Hamam al-Hammami.4
• ■Two reserve pilots who were on board took control of the aircraft and landed it in Tabuk.7
• ■UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said in a statement carried by the state news agency WAM that the investigation had found the co-pilot planned an attack on Ben Gurion Airport.7
• ■According to the Attorney General, the co-pilot had met the professional and security requirements for employment, including holding a pilot's licence and completing the required checks.6
• ■Six Israeli passengers received the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism from President Isaac Herzog on 8 October.5
• ■Eleven days after the attack, Israel had not increased security screening of foreign pilots, Channel 12 reported; airlines supply crew data only after the aircraft doors close.10

Not yet known

• ■The suspect's statement that he acted alone is still being verified; the UAE Public Prosecution is examining the possible involvement of accomplices.6
• ■When flydubai will resume flights to Israel: Israel's Transport Ministry is withholding approval until it receives comprehensive information about the incident.9
• ■Which law firms will represent the passengers in their planned compensation claims; the committee has not yet chosen legal representation.8
• ■Whether Israel will expand security checks for foreign crew; the Transport Ministry is expected to present the results of its review.10

Timeline

1. 30 Sep 2026
   Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverts to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; the passengers are later flown to Tel Aviv on another flydubai aircraft.1
2. 30 Sep 2026
   The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority opens an investigation to "determine the causes and circumstances of the incident".1
3. 30 Sep 2026
   Flydubai says flights to and from Israel will be suspended while the investigation continues.1
4. 1 Oct 2026
   By 1 October the UAE Attorney General has ordered a specialist team to investigate the flight, in coordination with the General Civil Aviation Authority.2
5. 4 Oct 2026
   Israel's Transport Ministry tells CNN that its procedures do not include checking the names of flight crew members.4
6. 8 Oct 2026
   President Isaac Herzog awards six passengers the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism.5
7. 8 Oct 2026
   European airline chiefs say it is hard to guard against a rogue pilot; Lufthansa's Carsten Spohr says there is no absolute safety and security in aviation.11
8. 9 Oct 2026
   The UAE Attorney General announces the first findings of the investigation, which is continuing.6
9. 11 Oct 2026
   Calcalist reports that about 100 of the 174 passengers have authorised a committee to coordinate compensation claims.8
10. 11 Oct 2026
    Flydubai extends its suspension of Israel flights to the end of October after Israel refuses its request to resume.9
11. 11 Oct 2026
    Channel 12 reports that Israel has not yet increased security screening of foreign pilots.10

All articles in this dossier

SAFETY · 12 Oct 2026After flydubai FZ1073: what pilot medical and security screening is designed to catch

SAFETY · 11 Oct 2026Flydubai FZ1073 passengers prepare compensation claims against the airline and Israel

Sources

1. 1The National · UAE's civil aviation authority investigates 'security incident' on flydubai flight · 30 Sep 2026
2. 2The National · UAE investigation to determine if flydubai incident was linked to 'terrorist activity' · 1 Oct 2026
3. 3The National · Flydubai suspends Israel flights after mid-air security incident · 30 Sep 2026
4. 4CNN · Flydubai hijacking attempt exposes worrying gaps in aviation security · 4 Oct 2026
5. 5The Jerusalem Post · Herzog awards Israel's highest civilian bravery honor to six heroes of flydubai flight · 8 Oct 2026
6. 6Gulf News · flydubai co-pilot allegedly planned 9/11-style attack, UAE probe finds · 9 Oct 2026
7. 7Al Jazeera · Flydubai co-pilot plotted ‘suicide’ attack on Israel, UAE says · 9 Oct 2026
8. 8CTech by Calcalist · Flydubai passengers prepare lawsuits seeking hundreds of millions of dollars · 11 Oct 2026
9. 9CTech by Calcalist · Israel blocks Flydubai's return after attempted hijacking · 11 Oct 2026
10. 10The Times of Israel · 11 days after flydubai attack, Israel yet to tighten vetting of foreign aircrew - report · 11 Oct 2026
11. 11Reuters · Airline chiefs say can't fully guard against rogue pilots after flydubai attack · 8 Oct 2026