Passengers and Crew Foil Attempted Crash of Flydubai Flight
Passengers and crew subdued an Omani co-pilot who stabbed the captain and attempted to crash a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv 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 allegedly stabbed the captain in an attempt to crash the aircraft. The attack caused the plane to plummet between 14,000 and 18,000 feet in less than two minutes, triggering emergency and hijacking codes. Smit Machchhar, the Indian captain, fought back and unlocked the cockpit door despite sustaining serious injuries, allowing passengers and crew to storm the cockpit and overpower the assailant. Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayoun and others subdued the attacker, while two off-duty pilots on board stabilized the aircraft and landed it safely.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz characterized the event as an attempted jihadist terror attack, with Netanyahu comparing it to a potential 9/11 disaster. While some Israeli officials suggested the attack targeted Israelis, Flydubai and UAE authorities cautioned against premature speculation, noting that motives remain under investigation. The incident prompted Israel to ramp up security screenings for all pilots flying into the country and led Flydubai to temporarily suspend flights to and from Israel.
Captain Machchhar received emergency treatment from a passenger dentist before undergoing surgery in Tabuk. He was hailed as a hero by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other world leaders. Israeli President Isaac Herzog recommended the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism for the passengers who intervened. Saudi authorities arrested the co-pilot, and the UAE Attorney General has launched a formal probe into the attacker's motives.
