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Updated United Arab Emirates Emergency / health travel notice

UAE Prosecutors State Flydubai Co-Pilot Attempted Terrorist Attack With Crash Axe

UAE carriers including Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, and Air Arabia cancelled multiple services to Saudi destinations such as Riyadh and Abha on Saturday, October 10. Additional cancellations hit Air Arabia Abu Dhabi routes to Kuwait and Tashkent, while Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports recorded incoming flight delays. Airlines and airport operators urged all passengers to check their flight status directly before travelling.

Published Updated Source: Devdiscourse
Affected country
United Arab Emirates
Location / route
Dubai–Tel Aviv flight route / Tabuk Airport
Published by source
October 3, 2026 2:12 PM CST
Effective period
September 30, 2026 12:00 AM CST
Last verified
October 11, 2026 3:38 AM CST
Status
Updated

Official guidance

Passengers are advised to check flight status directly with their airline before leaving for the airport and verify rebooking or refund options.

Summary of official information. Always check the official source and follow the guidance of the authorities. UECN does not issue risk ratings; the absence of an alert does not mean that a destination is safe.

Illustration: A modern commercial jet airliner parked on a quiet airport tarmac at sunrise, with service vehicles nearby and runway lights visible in
Illustration

Update — October 11, 2026 3:38 AM CST: UAE carriers including Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, and Air Arabia cancelled multiple services to Saudi destinations such as Riyadh and Abha on Saturday, October 10. Additional cancellations hit Air Arabia Abu Dhabi routes to Kuwait and Tashkent, while Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports recorded incoming flight delays. Airlines and airport operators urged all passengers to check their flight status directly before travelling.

Update — October 9, 2026 12:54 AM CST: European budget carrier Wizz Air has cancelled all planned winter flights to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, pushing back its scheduled UAE comeback until late March 2027. The airline stated that extended regional airspace restrictions require longer detours, making operations commercially unviable under current conditions. Services connecting European cities to Amman, Jordan, have also been affected following European aviation safety updates.

The United Arab Emirates Attorney General, Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, announced that investigations into flydubai flight FZ1073 determined the co-pilot attempted to carry out a terrorist act, according to state news agency WAM. The prosecutor general stated that the co-pilot attacked the captain inside the cockpit using an emergency crash axe in an attempt to seize control of the aircraft.

The incident took place aboard a scheduled service from Dubai to Tel Aviv carrying more than 170 passengers and crew. During the confrontation, the aircraft experienced a steep plunge before the captain, cabin crew, and passengers intervened to overpower the co-pilot and restore stability.

The flight diverted to Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely, and Saudi authorities detained the co-pilot. Both the injured captain and the suspect were subsequently transferred to Abu Dhabi accompanied by UAE security personnel.

Flydubai stated that the circumstances remain under investigation and confirmed the suspension of its flights to and from Israel. UAE prosecutors reported that examinations of physical and digital evidence are continuing to establish the suspect's motives and any related connections.

Revision history

  1. Updated Official update applied: UAE carriers including Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, and Air Arabia cancelled multiple services to Saudi destinations such as…
  2. Updated Official update applied: European budget carrier Wizz Air has cancelled all planned winter flights to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, pushing back…
  3. Active Published automatically from the official source

Sources

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US Embassy in Jordan Issues Advisory on Regional Flight and Travel Disruptions

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