FlyDubai attacker intended to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport, investigation finds

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An Israeli airline El Al aircraft is parked on the tarmac at Ben Gurion Airport near the city of Lod on Friday. Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

TEL AVIV, Israel — An ongoing investigation into last week's midair attack on a FlyDubai plane has found that the co-pilot who tried to take control of the flight intended to crash it into Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport, a person familiar with the matter but not authorized to speak publicly told NPR.

The plane was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv and was intending to land at Ben Gurion midmorning on a busy weekday. The co-pilot attacked the plane's captain midflight with an axe and attempted to take control of the plane.

Emirati investigators say FlyDubai co-pilot used crash axe in attempted terrorist attack

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates — which is leading the main investigation into the incident, with help from Israeli officials — and in Israel have deemed the attack an attempted terrorist attack, although the motive is still being investigated.

The commercial flight had 172 people on board, according to the airline, the majority of whom were Israeli. All passengers and crew were safe and accounted for after the plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. They were flown to Tel Aviv late Wednesday.

Investigators said that the co-pilot carried out the attack with what's called a crash axe — a lightweight emergency tool stored in the cockpit to break through panels or jammed doors in the event of a crash.

The aviation tracking site Flightradar24 said data shows at one point the plane descended more than 14,000 feet, or nearly 3 miles, in under 30 seconds — way faster than normal.

The pilot was able to open the cockpit door during the attack, and passengers rushed in and subdued the attacker, while another pilot who happened to be on board helped land the plane, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who spoke to the injured pilot as he was recovering in the hospital.

Both the pilot and the co-pilot are alive and have been transferred to the UAE for questioning.

The co-pilot is from Oman, according to Israeli officials. Omani and Emirati officials have not confirmed that publicly.