- A Dubai-Tel Aviv Flydubai flight made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after its captain was stabbed by the co-pilot, with passengers intervening to subdue the attacker.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after the captain was stabbed by his co-pilot during the flight, prompting passengers to intervene and helping prevent what Israeli officials described as a possible attempt to crash the aircraft.
Flight FZ 1073, operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, landed safely at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Flydubai said all passengers were safe and accounted for, while the circumstances and motive behind the cockpit altercation remain under formal investigation.
The Indian captain, identified as Smit Machchhar, was injured in the incident. According to accounts cited by Israeli authorities, Machchhar opened the cockpit door after being attacked, allowing passengers to enter and help overpower the co-pilot, dw.com reports.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the incident as an attempted “jihadist terror attack,” while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was too early to determine who was behind the incident. Netanyahu said Israel could participate in the investigation and cautioned against drawing conclusions about possible foreign involvement.
Flight-tracking data cited in reports showed the aircraft entering a steep descent as it approached the Saudi-Jordan border. The plane fell from nearly 34,000 feet to below 17,000 feet in about one minute. Israeli media reported that fighter jets were scrambled amid initial concerns over a possible hijacking, although that possibility was subsequently dismissed.
Flydubai said the reasons for the altercation in the flight deck were not yet known and urged all parties to avoid speculation while authorities establish the facts. The airline later suspended flights to and from Israel pending the investigation. The passengers remained in Tabuk before being flown to Israel on a replacement aircraft. They later arrived at Ben Gurion Airport, where relatives gathered to receive them.
Netanyahu subsequently praised Captain Machchhar, saying the pilot continued to resist despite being seriously injured and enabled passengers and crew to subdue the attacker. Netanyahu said the actions of those involved prevented a potentially catastrophic mid-air incident and credited them with saving the lives of 174 people.
The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said Machchhar was in stable condition and receiving treatment at a hospital in Tabuk. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised the captain, describing his actions as courageous and saying they helped avert a major tragedy. The incident has prompted increased security measures. Netanyahu ordered authorities to strengthen security arrangements for Israeli and foreign airlines following the incident.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said he had spoken with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with both sides expressing a determination to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperate against extremist elements that could threaten regional security and stability.
US President Donald Trump said he had discussed the incident with Netanyahu. Trump referred to the co-pilot as potentially a terrorist, although the circumstances, motive and any wider links remain subject to investigation. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul condemned the incident as a serious attack on civil aviation and called for the circumstances to be clarified quickly and thoroughly.
The incident remains under investigation in Saudi Arabia. Authorities have yet to establish a definitive motive or publicly determine whether the cockpit attack was part of a wider plot.
