A Flydubai Boeing 737 carrying 174 passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv experienced a hijacking attempt in Saudi Arabian airspace on September 30, when the first officer allegedly stabbed the captain and a violent struggle ensued in the cockpit. The Omani first officer had previously been grounded by Oman Air after extremist material was discovered during his training in 2024, the flight ultimately landed safely in Tabuk after passengers and off-duty crew members intervened.
Cockpit Struggle and Stabbing on Flydubai Flight FZ1073
The flight turned violent as the first officer, a national of Oman, attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar with a sharp weapon inside the cockpit. The Boeing 737 was operating flight FZ1073 with 166 Israelis among the 174 passengers and eight crew members when the co-pilot attempted a suicide action. The aircraft plunged steeply while the two pilots fought for control.
Badly injured and bleeding on the cockpit floor, Captain Machchhar used his final strength to unlock the door. The captain recalled thinking that the door was right there and that he just needed to open it so help could enter. When the door opened, passengers saw blood on the walls and rushed in to overpower the armed first officer.
Machchhar, a 39-year-old father of two, later described the moment to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating, I managed it, and people came in
. He told the prime minister that he knew unlocking the door was his last effort
. Prime Minister Modi praised the pilot, stating his bravery helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy
.
Passenger Intervention and Safe Landing in Saudi Arabia
Four individuals managed to enter the cockpit to subdue the attacker, including Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayum, who took over the controls to pull the aircraft out of its steep dive. Two other off-duty pilots who happened to be on board then stepped in to assist. Passengers bound the attacker with plastic strips and wires, while dentist Shota Musayev provided emergency first aid to the wounded captain.
One passenger, Asaf Rajuan, who entered the cockpit, said he acted on instinct to survive, save the family, the people and the children
. Another passenger, Daniel, said the dive lasted perhaps two minutes and felt as if it were September 11 again
. Yaniv Hayum later met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while still wearing blood-stained clothes, apologizing for asking ten times about my luggage
so he could change before the meeting.
The aircraft was diverted and made an emergency landing about 90 minutes later in Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Both Captain Machchhar and the suspect were transported to hospitals, and all 174 passengers later landed safely in Tel Aviv on Wednesday evening.
Authorities investigate the incident as a terror attack
Israeli authorities are investigating the incident as an attempted terror attack, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating on Fox News that the suspect underwent Islamist indoctrination. Intelligence sources indicated the suspect may have intended to crash the plane over Israel, though this has not been officially confirmed by authorities.
Israel’s defense minister described the event as an attempted jihadist terror attack
. Mossad and Shin Bet are among the agencies investigating. When asked about Iranian involvement, Netanyahu said it was too early to say
. He noted the suspect would likely be transferred to the Emirates, where he originated or started the flight.
New details have emerged regarding the suspect’s employment history. Oman Air grounded the co-pilot in 2024 after finding extremist material during his training, yet he was subsequently retained in an administrative role and later hired by Flydubai. Investigators in Israel, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates are now examining how he obtained employment and flight duties despite the earlier grounding. The Washington Street Journal also reported on the flight ban.
Involved countries and flight details of the investigation
Which airlines and countries are involved in the investigation?
Israel, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates are participating in the investigation, while Flydubai announced it is suspending all flights to and from Israel during the probe.
What happened to the injured captain and the suspect?
Captain Smit Machchhar was hospitalized with severe injuries from the knife attack, and the suspect was initially held in Saudi Arabia before being transferred to the United Arab Emirates.
How many people were on board the flight?
The flight carried 174 passengers—including 166 Israelis—alongside eight crew members.
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