An attempt was made on Wednesday to hijack and crash a Flydubai flight (FZ-1073) traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Israel. Following an attack by the Omani co-pilot inside the cockpit, the quick thinking and bravery of the Indian pilot, Smit Machhar, saved the lives of 174 passengers (including 27 children).
After stabbing the Indian pilot, the co-pilot attempted to crash the plane. Israeli passengers intervened and helped subdue the attacker.
Fearing a hijacking, Israel scrambled fighter jets. The aircraft subsequently made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
According to *The New York Times*, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the incident as a "very serious security-related event." In a statement, he said, "While the flight was approaching Israel, one pilot stabbed the other, and it appears he attempted to crash the plane with the passengers on board."
Citing passengers, he reported that when the plane began to nosedive, passengers and a crew member broke down the cockpit door and entered. They found the co-pilot attempting to sabotage the aircraft's systems.
They subdued the pilot who had committed the stabbing. Another crew member then entered the cockpit and assisted in stabilizing the aircraft. Israeli Prime Minister says all passengers safe
The Israeli Prime Minister stated that all passengers are out of danger. The pilot who committed the stabbing has been arrested, and Saudi officials are interrogating him.
He said, "I salute the heroes who demonstrated extraordinary presence of mind and courage. They saved many lives and averted a major tragedy."
Netanyahu's office stated that the situation is under control, and the Prime Minister has ordered heightened security for flights—both Israeli and non-Israeli—bound for Israel.
According to flight tracking data, the aircraft issued an emergency alert approximately two and a half hours after taking off from Dubai. During this time, the plane descended from 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in just 30 seconds.
Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk reported that the aircraft issued a distress call at 8:44 AM local time. It then circled erratically near the Jordanian border before landing in Tabuk at 9:45 AM—about an hour later.
Indian pilot Smit Machhar saved the lives of 174 passengers
According to the AP, video footage circulating on social media shows two people lying wounded and covered in blood on the aircraft floor. Two individuals are seen administering emergency medical aid, while two others stand guard at the cockpit.
In the video, a person is heard saying in Hebrew, "We are protecting the pilot." A passenger, Zavika Manes, said, "I helped subdue the alleged attacker. I am covered in blood. It was madness."
He recounted that his wife had heard screaming near the cockpit before he and others intervened. In another video, passengers are seen crying and screaming in panic as the plane shakes.
Passengers told Israel's Channel 12 by phone that they heard screams from people seated at the front of the plane—who had overheard an argument between the pilots—and that the aircraft had descended rapidly before landing in Saudi Arabia.
According to a statement from Tabuk Airport, the plane's captain and co-pilot were injured and taken to the hospital. Passengers also received medical attention.
Confirming the incident, Flydubai stated, "Our teams are working with the relevant authorities." Flydubai is a low-cost subsidiary of Emirates Airlines.
The airline stated that all passengers and crew are safe. A spokesperson said, "The reasons and motives behind this incident are unknown and are the subject of a formal investigation. Do not jump to conclusions."
Attempted Jihadi Terrorist Attack: Katz
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the incident as an "attempted Jihadi terrorist attack" and claimed that Israeli passengers thwarted it.
Passengers subdued the alleged attacker after he entered the cockpit and helped hand over control of the aircraft to another crew member. In a statement, Katz said, "According to the initial information we have, the terrorist had only one objective—to crash the plane with all the passengers on board."
Saudi Arabia Rejects Israeli Request to Send Aircraft
Israel had proposed sending a Super Hercules aircraft from its air force to bring back the passengers aboard the Flydubai flight, a request Saudi Arabia rejected.
It is worth noting that there are no diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. According to Reuters, after spending approximately eight hours in Saudi Arabia, the Israeli passengers departed for Israel on another Flydubai flight.
Elections Upcoming in Israel
This incident occurred just weeks before elections in Israel. According to Reuters, Israelis are set to vote in the first election since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. Security is a key issue in the election campaign, and this incident has heightened concerns regarding security.
Not the First Incident of Landing in Saudi Arabia
A plane carrying Israeli citizens... Saudi Arabia...
This is not the first instance of an emergency landing. Saudi Arabia does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel, but in 2022, it lifted the ban on Israeli aircraft flying through its airspace.
Since then, Saudi Arabia has facilitated emergency landings for Israeli passengers on several occasions, including an incident in 2023 involving an aircraft that suffered an electrical malfunction.
In September 2025, a Flydubai flight also made an emergency landing in Riyadh. Since the normalization of relations between the two countries in 2020, the UAE has become a popular holiday destination for Israeli tourists. Flydubai operates daily flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv.
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