Kathmandu/Agencies — A violent attempt by a co-pilot to sabotage Flydubai Flight FZ1073 traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was thwarted by the flight captain and courageous passengers. International media outlets, including Reuters, CNN, AFP, and The Times of Israel, reported that the co-pilot launched a knife attack on the lead captain inside the cockpit on September 30, 2026, endangering the lives of 174 passengers and crew.
Midair Struggle and Emergency Descent
During the flight, the confrontation inside the cockpit sent the Boeing 737 MAX 8 into a steep dive, causing the aircraft to plummet approximately 14,000 feet in under a minute. The sudden drop triggered emergency transponder signals and spread intense panic throughout the cabin.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the actions on board as a "historic act of heroism that successfully prevented a catastrophic disaster". Israeli security agencies classified the event as a suspected terrorist attack directed against Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the Abraham Accords. Analysts noted that an insider attack—where an aircraft's own co-pilot attempts to sabotage control systems from within—represents a severe breach of conventional aviation security.
Co-Pilot Restrained After Attack
U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli officials confirmed that the flight's co-pilot initiated the attack. Speaking from the Oval Office, President Trump stated that the co-pilot acted with malicious intent, attacking the captain in an effort to bring down the plane.
Reports indicate that after stabbing lead Captain Smit Machchhar, the co-pilot was subdued following a physical struggle with passengers and crew. He was restrained using headphone cords and zip ties before being taken into custody by Saudi security officials following an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport. Authorities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE have launched a multi-agency investigation into the incident.
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Heroic Response by Captain and Passengers
Despite sustaining severe knife wounds and blood loss to his head and hands, 39-year-old Indian national Captain Smit Machchhar demonstrated remarkable bravery by opening the cockpit door to allow assistance inside.
Responding immediately, passengers Yaniv Hayoun, Assaf Rajuan, and Dr. Shota Musaev rushed into the flight deck. Hayoun restrained the attacker from behind and pulled back on the control yoke to help level the aircraft, later noting he drew from knowledge gained by watching the television series Air Crash Investigation.
Dr. Musaev, a dentist by profession, administered urgent first aid to stabilize Captain Machchhar's bleeding. Two off-duty pilots traveling as passengers then stepped in to take control of the aircraft, executing a safe emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
International Reaction
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Captain Machchhar’s bravery, stating, "India is proud of Captain Machchhar." U.S. President Donald Trump, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan also commended the heroism of the crew and passengers. Regional security agencies continue their joint investigation, while Flydubai has temporarily suspended flights to Israel pending safety reviews.
