ع
The Emirates News Agency reported that Counsellor Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, Attorney-General of the UAE, ordered the formation of an investigation team drawn from specialized members of the Public Prosecution to examine the incident involving flydubai flight FZ1073. The flight had departed Dubai International Airport on September 30 bound for Tel Aviv before an altercation occurred in the flight deck, according to the announcement. Crew members who were traveling on board intervened to secure the aircraft, which was then diverted and landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
The investigation team has already begun its work in coordination with the General Civil Aviation Authority and other relevant UAE authorities, the Emirates News Agency stated. Al Shamsi instructed the team to collect all available information and evidence, establish the facts and determine the circumstances and motives surrounding the event. The probe will also verify whether the incident was connected to any terrorist activity or purpose or involved any prior planning or direction.
In the statement carried by the Emirates News Agency, the Attorney-General stressed that investigations remain ongoing and called on the public to avoid speculation or sharing unverified information until authorities complete their work. He emphasized the need to rely solely on statements issued by official sources as the inquiry proceeds. This directive follows flydubai’s own announcement that the reasons and motives behind the event are unknown pending formal investigation.
UAE judicial authorities possess jurisdiction to investigate the matter under applicable legislation since the aircraft is registered in the UAE and operates under the national flag, according to the Emirates News Agency. Consequently, UAE law applies to crimes committed on board the aircraft even when they take place outside the country’s territory. The Attorney-General’s office framed the step as essential to a comprehensive review of all aspects of the diversion.
The General Civil Aviation Authority had previously described the event as a security incident that required the diversion and emergency landing, a report in The National noted. Some crew members sustained injuries during the altercation and received hospital treatment in Saudi Arabia after the plane was brought down safely. The airline indicated that its personnel and passengers assisted in resolving the situation on board.
Early accounts of the mid-air events, including details about those involved, contained numerous inaccuracies that prompted the call for restraint, the Emirates News Agency reported through the Attorney-General’s statement. The investigation continues with a focus on gathering verified evidence from all available sources. Authorities have not released further specifics on the sequence of events while the team conducts its examination.
