About 100 passengers aboard the flydubai flight attacked by its copilot on September 30 are preparing a proposed class action seeking hundreds of millions of dollars from the airline and the transportation ministries of Israel and the United Arab Emirates, according to Calcalist, cited Sunday by The Times of Israel.
The effort would bring a financial claim alongside the criminal investigation into Flight FZ1073, turning questions about pilot screening and aviation oversight into a potential legal battle over responsibility and compensation.
The passengers have formed a committee led by Tzvika Manes, a banking executive who helped restrain the attacker. The committee is seeking legal representation. Approximately 100 of the flight’s 174 passengers have joined the effort, according to the report.
The legal action remains in preparation. The report does not identify a filed complaint, a court or a hearing date.
Earlier estimates cited by Israeli media suggested compensation of $200,000 to $250,000 per passenger. Across 174 passengers, that would amount to $34.8 million to $43.5 million. Those estimates are separate from the reported intention to seek hundreds of millions, and neither represents an award or settlement.
The distinction matters: a proposed demand establishes what claimants intend to seek, while the amount recoverable depends on the claims, evidence and applicable law.
The UAE’s attorney general provided a detailed account of the attack on October 9. Prosecutors said the Omani copilot intended to seize the aircraft and crash it into the passenger terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, aiming to cause mass casualties.
According to the official statement, the suspect used two earlier flights to familiarize himself with the route and airport before carrying out the attack during his third flight to Tel Aviv.
Prosecutors said he assaulted the captain with an emergency axe. Another pilot aboard the aircraft intervened with assistance from a cabin crew member and passengers. Reserve pilots regained control and landed the aircraft at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
The investigation also examined his recruitment. UAE prosecutors said he had met flydubai’s professional and security requirements, including licensing, a good-conduct certificate and required checks. Those procedures, they said, had revealed no indication of extremist views or an intended attack.
That finding sets out the authorities’ account of the screening process. It does not resolve the passengers’ proposed civil claims.
International aviation rules provide a framework for certain passenger claims against airlines. The International Civil Aviation Organization explains that Article 17 of the Montreal Convention addresses carrier liability for death or bodily injury caused by an accident aboard an aircraft or during boarding or disembarkation.
That framework does not establish an automatic payment for everyone aboard this flight. Any eventual claim would require assessment of the injuries, evidence and legal requirements. The convention’s provisions on airline liability also do not, by themselves, establish government liability.
The potential dispute involves a substantial international carrier. Reuters reported that flydubai transported 15.7 million passengers in 2025, generating approximately $3.7 billion in revenue and $531 million in after-tax profit. Any eventual financial exposure remains uncertain until claims are filed and assessed.
The next steps are the appointment of lawyers and the submission of a complaint setting out the defendants, damages sought and legal basis. Separately, UAE prosecutors say they continue to examine evidence and possible accomplices, despite the suspect’s statement that he acted alone.
JBizNews Desk | Jerusalem
© JBizNews.com. All rights reserved. This article is original reporting by JBizNews Desk. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution is strictly prohibited.
