An Israel-bound flydubai flight carrying 174 passengers was forced to divert to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft. Passenger Yaniv Hayun placed the attacker in a chokehold while other travelers and crew members intervened to subdue him.
Cockpit Attack and Passenger Intervention on Flight FZ1073
The incident occurred aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 transmitted emergency distress signals at 1:21 AM ET, roughly two and a half hours after takeoff.
The BBC was informed by traveler Idan Polovincik that the aircraft underwent a nearly minute-long steep descent, accompanied by shouts declaring "there is blood, there is stabbing, we need help." Passenger Yaniv Hayun recounted in a video shared by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office how he placed the assailant in a chokehold and dragged him out of the cockpit.
Indian captain Smit Machchhar managed to send out an emergency signal and open the cockpit door despite sustaining injuries. Two reserve pilots who were onboard as passengers then took over the controls and safely landed the aircraft at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
Netanyahu Calls Cockpit Attack a Terror Attempt
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the Omani co-pilot had undergone radical Islamist indoctrination and was suicidal. Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu stated that preliminary indications showed the co-pilot intended to down the plane.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz classified the event as an "attempted jihadist terror attack." In response to the breach, Netanyahu ordered heightened security checks for flights entering and leaving Israel.
Israeli envoy to India Reuven Azar told PTI Videos that the military scrambled fighter jets as a precaution given Israel’s small geographical size, though the warplanes did not need to take action because passengers and crew regained control. President Isaac Herzog confirmed that the passengers involved will be recommended for the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism.
Online Conspiracy Theories Blame Israel for Incident
Within hours of the emergency landing, online conspiracy theories emerged accusing Israel of staging a false flag operation. During a 12-hour monitoring window, the Anti-Racism Coalition (ARC) analyzed 4,136 posts featuring the term "false flag," and uncovered 2,963 adversarial messages that pointed the finger at Israel, the Mossad, or Prime Minister Netanyahu.
CyberWell Founder and CEO Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor criticized the rapid spread of antisemitic narratives on social media, noting that such claims recast victims as perpetrators. In the United Kingdom, British Member of Parliament Ayoub Khan publicly cast doubt on the speed of the Israeli inquiry on social media, writing that he "smell[s] a rat."
International Investigations and Diplomatic Reactions
Flydubai announced the suspension of its flights to and from Israel while investigations proceed. The United Arab Emirates announced that it would conduct its own probe into the cockpit attack, and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan agreed to Israeli involvement in the inquiry during a conversation with Netanyahu.
U.S. President Donald Trump addressed reporters at the White House regarding the incident, stating that he spoke at length with Netanyahu and describing the co-pilot as "perhaps a terrorist or perhaps a whack job." Meanwhile, India’s ambassador to the UAE met with the family of wounded captain Smit Machchhar, who remained hospitalized in stable condition in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, according to the Indian consulate.
Reserve Pilots Land Flight After Cockpit Attack
Where did the flydubai flight land after the cockpit attack?
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely after reserve pilots took over the controls.
Who flew the aircraft after the captain was stabbed?
Two additional pilots who were traveling onboard as passengers entered the cockpit after travelers restrained the co-pilot and took over the controls to land the plane.
What official honours have been announced for the passengers?
Israeli President Isaac Herzog confirmed that the passengers who intervened to stop the attacker will be recommended for the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism.
Which international authorities are investigating the incident?
The United Arab Emirates announced its own investigation into the flight, with UAE leadership agreeing to Israeli participation, while flydubai suspended its Israel routes pending the findings.