Authorities and witnesses report that passengers and flight crew on a FlyDubai jet successfully prevented a co-pilot from crashing the aircraft into Israel after a violent confrontation in the cockpit. The incident occurred on flight FZ1073, which had departed Dubai bound for Tel Aviv.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that one of the pilots stabbed the other during the mid-air altercation. Despite sustaining serious injuries, the victim, identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar, managed to open the cockpit door. This allowed passengers and crew to storm the flight deck and subdue the attacker, thereby averting what Netanyahu described as a catastrophic disaster.
“Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster,” Netanyahu wrote on X. “He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals.”
Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 indicated significant instability prior to the intervention. The aircraft experienced extreme altitude fluctuations, dropping from over 14,000 feet in just 29 seconds. The platform noted that vertical speeds ranged from approximately -30,000 to +10,000 feet per minute, far exceeding the normal operational limit of plus or minus 4,000 feet per minute. The plane also broadcast a “general emergency” squawk code before being secured.
The flight was eventually diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. FlyDubai confirmed that an “altercation” took place on the flight deck but did not explicitly mention a stabbing in its initial statement. The airline noted that the motives behind the clash remain unknown and urged the public to refrain from speculation.
Machchhar was transported to a hospital in Tabuk and is reported to be in stable condition, according to the Indian embassy in Riyadh. The identity of the co-pilot has not been released, but Saudi authorities confirmed he is being interrogated.
Netanyahu also praised Yaniv Hayun, an Israeli passenger who led the charge into the cockpit, calling him a “hero” who deserved a global medal of honor. Another passenger, Assaf Regavim, later spoke to reporters at Ben Gurion Airport regarding the events.
To accommodate the stranded travelers, FlyDubai dispatched a second aircraft to Saudi Arabia to transport the passengers and crew back to Israel.
Why didn’t FlyDubai explicitly confirm the stabbing initially? Seems odd for an airline to withhold such critical details from the public.
I can’t believe passengers stormed the cockpit and subdue a co-pilot. That takes serious courage and quick thinking under pressure.
Those altitude fluctuations are terrifying. Dropping 14,000 feet in 29 seconds? This pilot was clearly trying to crash the plane.
The co-pilot’s bravery in fighting back despite being stabbed is truly incredible. He saved everyone on board.