Archive · 2 Oct 2026
FlyDubai Flight Plunge Followed Alleged Cockpit Attack, Safe Saudi Landing
A FlyDubai plane was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv when a serious fight reportedly began in the cockpit.
Israeli officials and passengers said one pilot attacked the other pilot.
The injured captain, Smit Machchhar, reportedly opened the cockpit door.
Passengers and crew then entered and restrained the attacking pilot.
At the same time, the plane suddenly dropped many thousands of feet.
Two other FlyDubai pilots who were traveling on the plane helped stabilize it.
The plane sent emergency signals and changed course for Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.
It landed safely, and the passengers later continued their journey on another aircraft.
Investigators are still working to find out 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 attacked and stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar during a cockpit confrontation.
Flight data showed the Boeing 737 MAX 8 falling from about 34,000 feet to roughly 16,600 feet; reports differed on the exact duration and altitude loss.
Machchhar reportedly opened the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to restrain the attacker while two additional FlyDubai pilots took control.
The aircraft diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, landed safely, and passengers later continued to Israel on a replacement aircraft.
- Who
- Passengers and crew on FlyDubai Flight FZ1073, Captain Smit Machchhar, the unnamed co-pilot, and two additional FlyDubai pilots traveling aboard the aircraft.
- What
- An alleged cockpit attack was followed by a major loss of altitude, passenger intervention, and an emergency diversion to Saudi Arabia.
- When
- September 30, 2026; reports were published on October 1, 2026.
- Where
- The flight traveled from Dubai toward Tel Aviv before diverting to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The aircraft diverted after an alleged cockpit confrontation, emergency transponder signals, and a dangerous loss of altitude; the motive remains unknown.
Israeli Officials And Passenger Accounts
FlyDubai’s Cautious Account
Nature of the cockpit incident
Israeli Officials And Passenger Accounts
Israeli officials and passengers described an alleged stabbing in which the co-pilot attacked Captain Smit Machchhar, reportedly with a knife or another object.
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 weapon.
Whether the attacker tried to crash the plane
Israeli Officials And Passenger Accounts
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacker apparently tried to crash the aircraft, and Israeli authorities treated the emergency signals and altitude loss as a possible hijacking threat.
FlyDubai’s Cautious Account
Netanyahu also said a hijacking attempt was unlikely, while FlyDubai did not publicly characterize the incident as a hijacking and said the investigation was ongoing.
What remains unconfirmed
Israeli Officials And Passenger Accounts
Passenger and official accounts say the wounded captain opened the cockpit door, passengers and crew subdued the attacker, and additional pilots took control.
FlyDubai’s Cautious Account
The airline has not publicly confirmed the precise cockpit sequence, motive, weapon, or exact cause of the aircraft’s altitude changes; those details remain subject to investigation.
- Flight
- FlyDubai Flight FZ1073
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 MAX 8
- People aboard
- Reports cited approximately 170 to 174 people
- Reported altitude loss
- Flight data indicated a fall from about 34,000 feet to approximately 16,600 feet; reports variously described the drop as nearly 14,000 feet in 29 seconds or about 15,000 to 17,400 feet in roughly a minute
- Emergency codes
- 7700 indicated a general emergency; 7500 indicated unlawful interference
- Diversion airport
- Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
- Investigation
- FlyDubai described an altercation and said the reasons and motives remain unknown and subject to formal investigation
