2 hrs ago
FlyDubai Flight Plunged After Cockpit Attack, Landed Safely
A FlyDubai plane was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv when a serious fight began in the cockpit.
Reports from Israeli officials and passengers say one pilot stabbed the other.
The injured captain managed to open the cockpit door.
Passengers and crew then entered and restrained the attacking pilot.
Meanwhile, the plane suddenly dropped thousands of feet.
Two other FlyDubai pilots who were traveling on the plane helped stabilize it.
The aircraft sent emergency signals and diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.
It landed safely, and the passengers later continued their trip on another plane.
Investigators are still trying to determine exactly what happened and why.
FlyDubai Flight FZ1073 was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with about 170 to 174 people aboard.
Israeli officials and passengers said the co-pilot allegedly stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar during an in-flight cockpit confrontation.
Flight data showed the Boeing 737 falling from about 34,000 feet to roughly 16,600 feet in around one minute, with one report recording a 14,000-foot drop in 29 seconds.
Machchhar reportedly opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the attacker while additional FlyDubai pilots took control.
The aircraft diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, landed safely, and passengers later continued to Tel Aviv on a replacement aircraft.
- Who
- Passengers and crew on FlyDubai Flight FZ1073, Captain Smit Machchhar, the unnamed co-pilot, and additional FlyDubai pilots traveling aboard the aircraft.
- What
- An alleged cockpit attack caused a severe in-flight emergency, a major loss of altitude, and the aircraft’s diversion to Saudi Arabia.
- Where
- The flight traveled from Dubai toward Tel Aviv before diverting to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- When
- September 30, 2026, during a Wednesday flight; the reports were published October 1, 2026.
- Why
- The aircraft diverted after an alleged cockpit altercation, emergency signals, and a dangerous loss of altitude. The motive for the confrontation remains unknown.
Israeli Officials And Passenger Accounts
FlyDubai’s Cautious Account
What happened in the cockpit
Israeli Officials And Passenger Accounts
Israeli officials and passengers described an alleged stabbing in which the co-pilot attacked Captain Smit Machchhar; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacker apparently tried to crash the aircraft.
FlyDubai’s Cautious Account
FlyDubai confirmed only that an “altercation” occurred on the flight deck and said the crew secured the aircraft and diverted it, without confirming the alleged stabbing or attempted crash.
Whether it was a hijacking attempt
Israeli Officials And Passenger Accounts
The transmission of emergency code 7500 and the aircraft’s rapid altitude loss led Israeli authorities to fear a possible hijacking, prompting fighter jets to be scrambled.
FlyDubai’s Cautious Account
Netanyahu said a hijack attempt was unlikely, while the airline did not publicly characterize the event as a hijacking and said the investigation remained ongoing.
Details still requiring confirmation
Israeli Officials And Passenger Accounts
Passenger and official accounts say a knife was involved, the wounded captain opened the cockpit door, and passengers and crew subdued the attacker.
FlyDubai’s Cautious Account
The weapon, motive, precise cockpit sequence, and exact cause of the altitude changes had not been independently confirmed and remained subjects of the formal investigation.
Key facts
- Flight
- FlyDubai Flight FZ1073
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 MAX 8
- People aboard
- Reports cited approximately 170 to 174 people
- Altitude loss
- Flight data showed a fall from about 34,000 feet to roughly 16,600 feet; reports differed on the precise duration and altitude change
- Emergency codes
- 7700 indicated a general emergency; 7500 indicated unlawful interference
- Diversion airport
- Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
- Captain’s condition
- Smit Machchhar was hospitalized in Saudi Arabia and reported to be stable
- Investigation status
- FlyDubai said the reasons and motives remain unknown and are subject to a formal investigation
Quotes
An unidentified passenger
A passenger whose account was reported by Ynet.
“We are in the middle of a plane hijacking. At the moment, we have subdued the terrorists and we are preparing to land… We need help.”
indianexpress.com
“A few of us just jumped in and pulled him out of the cockpit. Everything is OK now.”
indianexpress.com
Almog Italie
Passenger aboard FlyDubai Flight FZ1073 who described the aircraft’s sudden descent
“He called for help, and two others and I entered the cockpit and subdued the terrorist. I’m covered in blood.”
indianexpress.com
“It started dropping as if there was turbulence, but crazy. Twenty, 30 seconds of a crazy free fall”
news18.com
Sources
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