ع
Counsellor Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, Attorney-General of the UAE, ordered the formation of an investigation team drawn from specialised members of the Public Prosecution to examine the incident involving flydubai flight FZ1073, the Emirates News Agency reported on October 1 2026. The flight had been travelling from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv on September 30 when an altercation took place in the flight deck, prompting crew members travelling on board to intervene and divert the aircraft to a safe landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. The investigation team began its work immediately in coordination with the General Civil Aviation Authority and other relevant UAE authorities. Al Shamsi directed the team to gather all available information and evidence, establish the full facts and determine the circumstances and motives behind the event.
The Attorney-General instructed investigators to verify whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity or purpose or involved any prior planning or direction, according to the official statement carried by WAM. The GCAA had earlier confirmed that the September 30 flight experienced a security incident that resulted in injuries to some crew members, who were taken to a hospital in Saudi Arabia for treatment. flydubai said in a statement that an altercation occurred in the flight deck and that the aircraft was successfully secured by on-duty crew travelling as passengers before being diverted. All passengers and crew were reported safe and accounted for after the landing.
UAE judicial authorities hold jurisdiction to investigate the matter under legislation in force because the aircraft is registered in the UAE and flies the national flag, WAM reported. This means UAE law applies to any crimes committed on board even when they occur outside the country’s territory. The probe continues in close coordination with the GCAA, which has emphasised that the safety and security of passengers and crew remain its top priority while its own teams review operational and security aspects.
Al Shamsi stressed that investigations are ongoing and urged the public to refrain from speculation or circulating unverified information until the competent authorities complete their efforts to gather and verify the facts. He called for avoiding any conclusions before the investigations are completed and for relying on information and statements issued by official sources. The GCAA separately warned against spreading unofficial accounts that might pre-empt the findings of the formal inquiry.
flydubai announced it was suspending all flights to and from Israel while the authorities complete their work on the FZ1073 case, the carrier said in a statement. The airline added that the temporary suspension would allow relevant bodies to establish the facts surrounding the incident and that it was providing full support to the investigation. It noted that the move had no immediate impact on the rest of its network operations and that it would review the suspension once further information becomes available.
The event marks a significant test for aviation security on the UAE-Israel route, which opened after the 2020 Abraham Accords normalised relations between the two countries, according to regional aviation reports. Investigators are expected to examine flight data recorders, cockpit voice recordings and witness statements from crew and passengers as part of building a complete picture, specialists familiar with such inquiries indicated in coverage by The National. Israeli officials have described the episode as an attempted terror attack but the UAE-led investigation will independently establish the motives and sequence of events.
