DUBAI, October 1, 2026 — The Omani co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of flydubai flight FZ1073 and attempting to crash the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv service will be handed over to the United Arab Emirates once Saudi Arabia completes its preliminary investigation, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel on Wednesday.
The development sketches out a two-stage legal process for one of the most shocking aviation incidents of the year. After the Boeing 737 was forced into an unscheduled landing at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia on Wednesday morning, Saudi authorities will conduct the initial inquiry into the suspect. When that inquiry concludes, the co-pilot is expected to be transferred to Emirati authorities for a second, deeper investigation, the official said.
According to the report, Israeli authorities anticipate that the UAE’s investigation will yield more significant findings about the incident — a signal that questions about the motive, planning and possible outside direction behind the cockpit attack remain wide open.
UAE Asserts Jurisdiction
The announcement came hours after the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that judicial authorities had formally opened a comprehensive investigation into the mid-air incident. State media reported that the UAE’s Attorney-General, Counsellor Dr. Hamad Al Shamsi, had ordered the formation of a specialised team from the Public Prosecution to establish the precise causes and motives behind the disturbance.
The ministry emphasised that UAE judicial authorities maintain full jurisdiction over the case under applicable law, since the aircraft is registered in the UAE and operates under its national flag — meaning Emirati legal standards apply to offences committed on board regardless of where the aircraft was when the incident occurred. The statement also expressed appreciation for the quick response and cooperation of Saudi authorities in managing the aircraft’s landing and securing everyone on board.
A Hero Captain Recovering
Flydubai flight FZ1073, carrying roughly 174 people from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv, plunged dangerously after the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, was stabbed in the cockpit. Despite severe wounds, the captain managed to open the cockpit door so crew members and passengers could rush in and overpower the attacker, averting a catastrophe.
Machchhar underwent emergency surgery at a military hospital in Tabuk before being airlifted to Dubai on Wednesday to continue his long-term recovery. The Indian embassy in Riyadh said he was in stable condition and that officials were in touch with his family. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump were among the world leaders who praised the captain’s bravery.
What Comes Next
The handover plan puts Saudi Arabia first in the investigative queue, but the UAE’s prosecutorial machinery is already positioning itself as the main arena where the case will be decided. Aviation security analysts said the coming days would be crucial in determining whether the attack was an isolated act or something more coordinated.
Flydubai has suspended all flights to and from Israel while authorities on both sides work through the fallout — an episode that has rattled confidence in regional aviation and turned the spotlight on cockpit security in a way the industry has not seen in years.
