Flydubai first officer accused of attacking captain mid-flight

A pilot travelling as a passenger on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv intervened after growing suspicious about the cockpit door, which was opening and closing unusually often. The pilot opened the door with an access code on 30 September during flight FZ1073. He had been rostered to operate the return leg.

Inside the cockpit, according to the United Arab Emirates public prosecution, he saw the 29-year-old first officer attacking the captain with an emergency axe. The captain fought back and tried to raise the alarm. In earlier interviews, the captain said he had reached the door and was able to open it repeatedly.

The deadheading pilot, a cabin crew member and several passengers subdued the attacker and got the injured captain to safety. The first officer had put the aircraft into a steep descent during the attack and tried to damage instruments, the prosecution said. The crew rostered for the return flight then took control and diverted the aircraft to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.

A forensic medical assessment confirmed head injuries to the captain consistent with an assault involving a tool such as the emergency axe, investigators said.

The authority has also released further details about the suspected attack plans. Investigators in the Emirates are handling the case.