1.UAE Attorney General forms team to investigate flydubai altercation incident

Sat, Oct 03, 2026 | | Fajr 04:55|DXB 34.3°C

UAE authorities are investigating whether the incident involving flydubai flight FZ1073 “was linked to any terrorist activity or purpose or involved prior planning or direction”, the UAE Attorney-General said on Thursday.

Counsellor Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi ordered the formation of a special Public Prosecution investigation team to examine the incident, which occurred on Wednesday as the flight travelled from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv before being diverted and landing safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.

In a separate statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is “monitoring” the incident.

The decision followed flydubai’s announcement that an altercation had occurred in the flight deck during the journey, prompting crew members travelling on board to intervene and secure the aircraft.

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The investigation team has begun its work in coordination with the General Civil Aviation Authority and other relevant authorities in the UAE.

Al Shamsi directed investigators to take all necessary measures to gather information and evidence, establish the facts and determine the circumstances and motives surrounding the incident.

The UAE Attorney-General stressed that investigations were continuing 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 also called on the public to avoid drawing conclusions before the investigations are completed and to rely on information and statements issued by official sources.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said UAE judicial authorities have jurisdiction to investigate the incident because the aircraft is registered in the UAE and flies the UAE flag.

Under the legislation in force, UAE law applies to crimes committed on board the aircraft even if they occur outside the country's territory, the ministry said.

The UAE also thanked the Saudi authorities for their cooperation and handling of the incident, the ministry added.

Earlier, the GCAA said FZ1073, which was operating from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion International Airport on September 30, had experienced a "security incident" that was brought under control, necessitating its diversion and emergency landing at Tabuk Airport.

The authority said some members of the aircraft crew were injured in the incident and were taken to a hospital in Saudi Arabia for medical care.

Flydubai later said "an altercation occurred in the flight deck" and that the aircraft was "successfully secured by on-duty flydubai crew travelling on the flight", who diverted and landed it safely at Tabuk.

"All passengers and crew are safe and accounted for," a flydubai spokesperson said.

The airline also said it had deployed two replacement aircraft to Tabuk to relieve the passengers and crew and that the incident had no impact on other scheduled operations across its network.

At the time, flydubai said the "underlying reasons and motives behind this event are unknown" and urged all parties to refrain from premature speculation while authorities gathered the facts. 

As Associate Editor, Sahim Salim helps tell the UAE story like no one else does — and leads a team of reporters that asks the questions to get news and headlines that matter.

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