Passengers and Pilot Thwart Attempted Crash of FlyDubai Flight
Israeli passengers and an Indian captain subdued an Omani co-pilot who stabbed the captain and attempted to crash a Tel Aviv-bound flight on September 30.
A FlyDubai Boeing 737 Max 8 flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on September 30 after an Omani co-pilot stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft. The attack caused the plane to plummet approximately 14,000 to 17,000 feet in under two minutes. Despite his injuries, Captain Smit Machchhar unlocked the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to storm the flight deck and overpower the assailant. Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayoun and others subdued the co-pilot, while off-duty pilots on board stabilized the aircraft and landed it safely.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized the event as a prevented 9/11-style disaster, stating the co-pilot had undergone radical Islamist indoctrination. Defense Minister Israel Katz labeled it a jihadist terrorist attack. While Netanyahu noted general intelligence regarding Iranian proxies, he stated it was too early to confirm direct Iranian involvement. The co-pilot was arrested by Saudi authorities and later transferred to the United Arab Emirates for further investigation led by Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi.
In the aftermath, Israel implemented stricter security screenings for all pilots flying into the country and reviewed vetting processes for foreign nationals. FlyDubai temporarily suspended flights to and from Israel. President Isaac Herzog recommended the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism for several passengers, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Captain Machchhar as a hero. Captain Machchhar was airlifted to Abu Dhabi for medical treatment following surgery in Saudi Arabia.
