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UAE investigates flydubai pilot stabbing after cockpit attack

By Drooid · Sep 30, 2026, 8:07 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Pilot Stabs Co-pilot

A pilot stabbed the co-pilot on flydubai Flight FZ1073, causing a distress call.
UAE General Civil Aviation Authority opened an investigation into the mid-air security incident.
Passengers and off-duty crew entered the cockpit, overpowered the attacker, and steadied the plane.
The captain and co-pilot were injured, taken to a Saudi hospital, and all passengers remained safe.
Israel Defence Minister Israel Katz called the incident an attempted jihadist terrorist attack.

Summary

Regev Halts Flydubai

Transport Minister Miri Regev asked Shin Bet to halt all flydubai flights entering or leaving Israel.
She ordered the Israel Airports Authority to open a family-information area in Terminal 1 arrivals.
Flydubai’s agreement requires pilots from nations normalising ties with Israel, a rule Oman does not meet, prompting breach claims.
Pilots Association chairman Hagay Meyer said the incident demands a deep probe into recruitment and training checks.

History

Historical Context

In July 1976 Israel launched a 100-commando raid on Entebbe Airport in Uganda, rescuing 102 hostages and killing all seven hijackers and 45 Ugandan soldiers, while commander Yonatan Netanyahu was the sole Israeli casualty. The raid influenced global counter-terrorism tactics, and Israel’s transport minister Miri Regev and pilots’ union leader Hagay Meyer invoke Entebbe to demand stricter recruitment vetting after the 2024 incident.

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Pilot Stabs Co-pilot

A pilot stabbed the co-pilot on flydubai Flight FZ1073, causing a distress call.
UAE General Civil Aviation Authority opened an investigation into the mid-air security incident.
Passengers and off-duty crew entered the cockpit, overpowered the attacker, and steadied the plane.
The captain and co-pilot were injured, taken to a Saudi hospital, and all passengers remained safe.
Israel Defence Minister Israel Katz called the incident an attempted jihadist terrorist attack.

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