Two Maldivian pilots employed by Dubai-based airline Flydubai have reportedly been arrested in the United Arab Emirates as investigators expand their probe into an alleged attempt to hijack a passenger flight bound for Tel Aviv.
According to Israeli news outlet JFeed, citing Maldivian media organisation Adhadhu, the two pilots were initially questioned as witnesses but were later treated as suspects in the investigation. Their reported arrests have raised fresh questions about whether the September 30 incident involved anyone beyond the co-pilot accused of attacking the aircraft’s captain.
The report said the pilots’ families were initially unaware of their whereabouts. They were subsequently informed by the Maldivian embassy in the UAE that the two men were being held by local police.
The pilots were reportedly among the six Maldivian nationals employed by Flydubai and had allegedly been in contact with the co-pilot involved in the incident. However, authorities have not publicly disclosed the specific allegations against them, and no publicly available evidence has established their involvement in planning or carrying out the alleged attack.
What happened aboard the Flydubai flight?
On September 30, Flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia following a violent incident in the cockpit.
The co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with an axe, leaving him injured. The aircraft reportedly lost significant altitude during the confrontation before crew members and passengers intervened. The plane subsequently landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
The UAE later announced that the co-pilot had allegedly intended to seize control of the aircraft and crash it into the passenger terminal at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. Prosecutors said the suspect intended to cause mass casualties.
Investigation into possible wider involvement
The reported arrests could broaden the scope of the investigation, although they do not establish that the incident involved a wider conspiracy.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said investigators are examining whether the alleged attacker was directed by another individual or a state. He warned of retaliation if foreign involvement is established.
The UAE investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations against the two pilots have not been publicly detailed. Their reported detention should not be interpreted as proof of guilt.
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