Flydubai Co-Pilot Accused of Stabbing Captain; Machchhar Hailed as Hero by Netanyahu and Modi

On September 30, a distress call prompted a Flydubai service bound for Tel Aviv from Dubai to be rerouted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, after the airline said a confrontation in the cockpit left the captain allegedly stabbed by the co-pilot. The aircraft reportedly lost significant altitude and part of its rudder before passengers and crew subdued the attacker and a relief pilot landed safely. All passengers were reported safe, both pilots were hospitalised, and Captain Smit Machchhar has since been hailed by Israeli and Indian leaders as a hero.²⁵⁶¹

The incident

Flydubai reported that an incident occurred on Flight FZ1073 during its journey between Dubai and Tel Aviv, while confirming that every passenger remained unharmed. Controllers at Tabuk took in an emergency transmission from the plane, which touched down safely at 09:45 local time; its transponder had first broadcast code 7500, indicating unlawful interference, before switching to the general emergency signal 7700.¹⁵³¹⁰

According to passenger accounts, the co-pilot stabbed the captain and the aircraft lost significant altitude during the episode, with one account describing a drop of nearly 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds. Passenger Tzvika Manes said his wife noticed yelling coming from the direction of the cockpit and quickly informed a relief pilot. Manes said he and two other passengers then entered the cockpit to help subdue the attacker, while a doctor aboard the flight treated and stabilised the wounded captain. "I'm covered in blood. It was insane," Manes said.⁶¹

The Hindu reported that during the struggle the jet dropped from around 33,000 feet to roughly 17,000 feet within about a minute, veering in an irregular loop near the border with Jordan, with much of the tail's rudder said to have been ripped away in the dive before the standby pilot managed to regain control.²

Passenger Yaniv Hayun told The Hindu that he had gained some elementary understanding of aviation by regularly watching the TV series Air Crash Investigation. The airline said its crew members present on the Boeing 737 MAX 8 then brought the situation under control, redirected the plane, and brought it down without incident. Passenger Smit Machchhar, the captain, was seriously injured but fought back against the attack, according to the Hindu's account.⁶⁵⁸

Arrests and investigation

Saudi authorities detained the suspected attacker, identified by several outlets as the co-pilot and an Omani national, who had worked for Flydubai for nine months, according to VINnews. According to TASS, the attack was carried out by an Omani national serving as co-pilot against a captain the outlet identified as an Emirati citizen, though other reports name the captain as India's Smit Machchhar. India's embassy confirmed the injured pilot was Machchhar and said he was in stable condition.¹⁴⁵

Al Jazeera noted that claims of an attempted hijacking remain unconfirmed by independent sources, and that no outside verification exists yet for the detained person's nationality. The outlet said the aircraft had climbed to around 34,000 feet after departure and descended to roughly 15,000 feet by 05:33 GMT, though VINnews disputed that descent figure, citing a drop closer to 14,000 feet. What exactly happened on the flight remains unclear, according to NPR.³¹²

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "one pilot stabbed the other and apparently attempted to crash flydubai flight FZ1073." He also said, "the co-pilot stabbed the captain and apparently attempted to crash the aircraft." Israel's Ministry of Transport announced a joint investigation with the country's defence establishment, and Israeli officials said they were treating the episode as a possible terrorist attack, though this has not been independently confirmed. Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz held emergency consultations, and Netanyahu ordered tighter checks on pilots.⁵¹³⁴

Airline and aftermath

Flydubai said in a statement, "The safety and wellbeing of our passengers, crew and operations remain our highest priority," and added that "at this early stage, the underlying reasons and motives behind this event are unknown and remain subject to a formal investigation." The airline urged observers "to refrain from premature speculation while authorities gather the facts."¹⁰

Saudi Arabia rejected a request for an Israeli military aircraft to collect the stranded passengers, according to Aviation24.be. Flydubai deployed two replacement aircraft to Tabuk; one departed at 17:40 local time, and passengers arrived at Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday evening. The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the security incident, and Emirates suspended code-share flights to Tel Aviv. Flydubai then halted every route connecting with Ben Gurion Airport, explaining that the pause would give investigators time to determine what occurred and would be reassessed as more details emerge.⁵¹⁰

Netanyahu conveyed his support for the wounded captain, stating: "I wish Captain Macchachar a quick and complete recovery. He is a true hero." Both pilots were reported hospitalised in Tabuk, with Machchhar undergoing surgery after being stabbed.⁹⁸

Praise and public reaction

After the passengers reached Ben Gurion Airport, Netanyahu embraced Yaniv Hayoun, one of the passengers who helped subdue the attacker, telling him, "I see you and I see a lion — a big hero." Hayoun credited his knowledge of the television series Air Crash Investigation for helping him understand the crisis, telling the prime minister, "I watch Air Crash Investigation, Mr Prime Minister."¹

Netanyahu separately praised Captain Machchhar, saying he "saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals" by fighting back despite his injuries and opening the cockpit door for passengers and crew. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also lauded Machchhar, saying he "showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others," while India's embassy in Saudi Arabia said it hoped he would "recover from his injuries at the earliest."²¹

The incident sparked debate in Israel over airline security. Pilots Association chairman Hagay Meyer said Israeli carriers maintain stricter security than some foreign airlines, stating, "I want to note to the credit of Israeli companies that we know their security rules; they are strict, and there we are more at ease," though he added, "I won't say risk, but they take a certain responsibility upon themselves." Some social media users voiced alarm and discussed the cost of switching to Israeli carriers such as El Al over foreign airlines like Etihad.¹⁰