A commercial pilot has been arrested after allegedly stabbing another pilot aboard a Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, an incident Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as an attempted crash that was thwarted by the crew and passengers.
More than 170 people were on board the aircraft when the attack occurred. Passengers and crew managed to subdue the attacker and retake control of the plane, successfully landing it at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The majority of those aboard were Israeli nationals.
The stabbed pilot, identified as Indian national Captain Smit Machchhar, remains in stable condition at a hospital. Netanyahu praised Machchhar on social media as a “true hero” demonstrating “extraordinary bravery,” noting that despite sustaining serious injuries, he fought back and opened the cockpit door, allowing others to restrain the assailant and prevent a catastrophic mid-air disaster.
“He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals,” Netanyahu wrote.
Flight FZ1073 departed Dubai International Airport at 03:05 GMT. Approximately two and a half hours into the journey, flight tracking data indicated a rapid descent of more than 17,000 feet over Saudi Arabia in under two minutes. The aircraft subsequently transmitted emergency squawk codes, including a hijacking alert, before looping back into Saudi airspace for a manual landing at Tabuk.
Israeli officials have weighed in on the motive. US President Donald Trump stated he spoke with Netanyahu and suggested the attacker may have been “perhaps a terrorist.” Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz labeled the event an “attempted jihadist terror attack,” though no official motive has been confirmed.
Flydubai confirmed in a statement that an altercation took place in the flight deck and that the flight was secured by on-duty crew members traveling on the same flight, who diverted and landed the aircraft safely.
Passengers arrived back in Tel Aviv on a repatriation flight later on Wednesday, where they were greeted by crowds waving Israeli flags. Passengers described the traumatic events, with one recounting how he placed the attacker in a chokehold while others helped pin him down using zip ties and headphones.
The arrested pilot is currently under investigation in Saudi Arabia and is expected to be returned to the United Arab Emirates. Netanyahu indicated that Israel is likely to contribute to the ongoing inquiry.
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