Passengers and Pilot Thwart Attempted Crash of FlyDubai Flight

On September 30, 2026, Smit Machchhar, an Indian captain for FlyDubai, and several passengers thwarted an attempted crash of Flight FZ1073 traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. During the flight, an Omani co-pilot stabbed Machchhar and attempted to sabotage the aircraft's controls, causing the Boeing 737 MAX 8 to plummet between 14,000 and 18,000 feet in under two minutes. Despite his injuries, Machchhar unlocked the cockpit door, allowing passengers—including Yaniv Hayoun and Dr. Shota Musayev—and crew members to storm the flight deck and subdue the attacker using earphone cords and plastic cuffs.

Two off-duty pilots on board stabilized the aircraft and performed an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. All 174 passengers and crew survived, though the aircraft sustained structural damage to its rudder and tail. Machchhar was hospitalized in Saudi Arabia before being airlifted to Abu Dhabi for further treatment.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized the event as a prevented "9/11 style crash," stating the co-pilot had undergone "Islamist radical indoctrination" and appeared suicidal. While Defense Minister Israel Katz labeled it an "attempted jihadist terror attack," Netanyahu noted it was too early to confirm direct Iranian involvement. The United Arab Emirates has assumed jurisdiction over the investigation and transferred the suspect from Saudi custody to the UAE. In response, FlyDubai suspended flights to Israel, and the Israeli government implemented stricter security screenings for all pilots flying into the country.