Flydubai Co-Pilot Stabs Captain, Attempts to Crash Plane into Ben Gurion Airport
On September 30, 2026, a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv (FZ1073) was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the co-pilot, an Omani national, attacked the captain with an axe or knife, seriously injuring him. The captain opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers to subdue the attacker. The plane dropped sharply before off-duty pilots landed it safely. Israeli and UAE authorities treat it as a suspected terrorist attack. The co-pilot had reportedly been fired from Oman Air over extremist views.
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Flydubai Copilot Allegedly Tried to Crash Plane into Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, US Media Report
According to US media reports citing US and Israeli officials, the copilot of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv allegedly attempted to crash the aircraft into Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. The incident occurred on October 2, 2026, when the copilot attacked the pilot with a rescue axe. Despite severe injuries, the pilot managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to subdue the attacker. A second crew member landed the plane, which had dropped sharply during the struggle, in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The copilot, an Omani national, was taken to the UAE. Israeli and Emirati authorities are treating the incident as a suspected terrorist attack. The Wall Street Journal reported the copilot had previously been fired from an Omani airline over fears of radical ideological views. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the copilot was Islamist-indoctrinated. The investigation is in its early stages, with open questions about the attacker's precise intentions.
Read sourceFlydubai co-pilot planned to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport or building, reports say
Multiple news outlets report that a Flydubai co-pilot planned to crash a plane into Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport or a building in Israel. According to Israeli officials and an investigation, the co-pilot had planned the attack before joining the airline. The WSJ reports multiple security failures allowed the pilot into the cockpit. CBS News, citing sources, says Israel was prepared to shoot down the FlyDubai plane after the co-pilot attacked the captain. The incident was foiled, and the co-pilot's intentions were uncovered during the investigation.
Read sourceFlyDubai attacker planned to crash plane into Tel Aviv airport, investigation finds
An investigation has found that the attacker involved in the FlyDubai incident intended to crash the plane into Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, according to reports from multiple news outlets including NPR, WSJ, CNN, and Reuters. The co-pilot allegedly planned the attack before joining the airline, two Israeli officials told Reuters. The Wall Street Journal reported multiple security failures that allowed the pilot into the cockpit. CNN cited sources saying the alleged hijacker likely wanted to target Israel's Ben Gurion Airport. Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated he believes Iran was responsible for the FlyDubai attack, as reported by USA Today. The incident has raised serious questions about aviation security protocols and potential state involvement.
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Police Investigate Flydubai Co-Pilot's Australia Ties After Midair Attack Attempt
Multiple news outlets report on an incident involving a Flydubai co-pilot who allegedly attempted to hijack or attack a flight. Al Jazeera reports that police are investigating the co-pilot's ties to Australia. CNN states the hijacking attempt exposes worrying gaps in aviation security. NPR notes that the motive behind the midair attack remains unclear. The Associated Press reports that the UAE had shared details about the FlyDubai flight with Israel, including the pilots' names and nationalities. Reuters, citing two Israeli officials, reports that the co-pilot planned the attack before joining the airline. The incident has raised questions about aviation security protocols and the background checks of airline personnel.
Flydubai Copilot Allegedly Planned Ben-Gurion Crash, Abandoned Earlier Plot Due to Friend on Board
According to Israeli media reports, Flydubai copilot Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national, planned to crash Flight FZ1073 into Ben-Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. During interrogations in the UAE, he allegedly stated he intended to kill the captain, then continue the flight normally, obtain landing clearance, and steer the aircraft into a building or plane on the tarmac. The plot failed when Captain Smit Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door despite being attacked with a fire axe. Israeli passengers subdued the copilot, and off-duty pilots stabilized the plane. The suspect reportedly abandoned an earlier attack planned for July because he was friends with a crew member. The aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The suspect faces the death penalty in the UAE, and Israeli investigators may also question him. The report includes a detailed timeline of the incident.
Read sourceMultiple Security Failures Allowed FlyDubai Pilot Into Cockpit, Reports Say
A FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv experienced a cockpit attack by a co-pilot, who is accused of attempting to hijack the aircraft. The Wall Street Journal reports that multiple security failures allowed the pilot into the cockpit. Israeli sources told CNN that the co-pilot probably acted alone. The UAE had shared details about the flight with Israel, including pilots' names and nationalities, according to AP News. The FlyDubai captain described fighting for his life during the attack, and a hero passenger recounted deciding that everyone would survive, as reported by ABC News and CBS News respectively. The incident highlights significant security lapses in aviation protocols.
Read sourceAlleged Flydubai hijacking attempt exposes worrying gaps in aviation security
A series of news articles report on an alleged hijacking attempt by a Flydubai co-pilot, which has exposed significant gaps in aviation security. According to The Times of Israel, the co-pilot, described as a terrorist, intended to crash the plane into Ben Gurion Airport but canceled the attack plan at the last moment in July. The New York Times reports that Israeli authorities are trading blame for failing to flag the co-pilot. CNN highlights the worrying security gaps revealed by the incident. Reuters provides a simulation of the flight's sudden plunge, describing it as a 'vertical roller coaster'. Al Jazeera adds that police are investigating the co-pilot's ties to Australia. The incident has raised serious questions about vetting procedures and intelligence sharing among international aviation and security agencies.
Read sourceCo-pilot accused of trying to hijack Flydubai plane probably acted alone, Israeli sources say
Israeli sources have stated that the co-pilot accused of attempting to hijack a Flydubai flight likely acted alone. The incident involved the co-pilot using a crash ax, a common fixture on many jets. The United Arab Emirates had shared details about the flight with Israel, including the pilots' names and nationalities. Israeli authorities are trading blame for the failure to flag the co-pilot. A passenger on the flight was motivated to confront the attacker after his daughters said, 'Daddy, we don't want to die.'
Read sourceUAE shared FlyDubai flight details with Israel, including pilots' names and nationalities
The United Arab Emirates shared details about a FlyDubai flight with Israel, including the pilots' names and nationalities, according to a report by the Associated Press. The incident involved an alleged hijacking attempt on a FlyDubai aircraft. Australian authorities are investigating the co-pilot's links to the country. Israeli investigators believe the alleged hijacker was likely a lone wolf, according to sources cited by CBS News. The attacker reportedly used a 'crash ax,' a common fixture on many jets, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. The Associated Press also reported on mystery men who intervened to prevent the plane from crashing. The event has drawn international attention, with multiple news outlets covering the security breach and the subsequent investigations.
Read sourceFlydubai Co-Pilot Planned Terror Attack, Attacked Pilot with Axe Mid-Flight
On October 3, 2026, taz.de reported that a Flydubai co-pilot attempted to crash a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. According to the United Arab Emirates' state news agency WAM, the co-pilot, an Omani national, attacked the pilot with an emergency axe in the cockpit, seriously injuring him. Passengers overpowered the co-pilot, allowing the aircraft, carrying over 170 people, to land safely. The UAE General Prosecution stated the co-pilot planned a 'terror act.' Multiple media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal and CNN, reported that the suspect had been barred from flying in Oman due to extremist views and had lost his job at Oman Air the previous year. Al-Arabiya reported that Omani authorities had identified his extremist views and that he had spent time in Syria, raising concerns of radicalization. ABC News reported that the suspect possessed extremist materials during his training. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the co-pilot stabbed the pilot to crash the plane, narrowly averting a terror attack.
Read sourceIndian pilot tells PM Modi he opened flydubai cockpit door during attack
An Indian pilot informed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he opened the cockpit door of a flydubai flight during an attack. The incident, a stabbing of the pilot mid-flight, has further unsettled a region already shaken by U.S.-Iran tensions. Former U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran of fresh strikes if Tehran was involved in the FlyDubai plane incident. Multiple news outlets, including Reuters, Fox News, PBS, The New York Times, and DW, are reporting on the event, with the pilot being described as a 'hero' for actions that helped avert a potential disaster. The full details of how passengers and crew averted disaster are being reported, and the pilot has spoken publicly for the first time about the ordeal.
Injured Flydubai Pilot Recounts Opening Cockpit Door to Save Passengers After Co-Pilot Attack
On October 2, 2026, taz.de reported that Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar, injured in a knife attack by his co-pilot, described how he opened the cockpit door despite severe stab wounds to prevent the aircraft from crashing. In a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, posted on X, Machchhar said he fought for his life but also knew he could not let many others die. He felt the plane losing altitude while on the ground and recited the Hanuman Chalisa for courage. The Boeing 737, carrying 182 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where passengers subdued the attacker. The co-pilot, an Omani national, was taken into custody and moved to the UAE; his motive remains unclear. Israeli officials called it an attempted Islamist attack, but many questions remain. Machchhar, a former SpiceJet senior commander with over 9,750 flight hours, is being treated in the UAE. His flight school director noted that pilot training does not cover knife attacks by colleagues.
Indian pilot hailed as hero after being stabbed on Israel-bound Flydubai flight
On October 1, 2026, BBC News reported that Capt Smit Machchhar, an Indian national and pilot for Flydubai, was stabbed by another pilot mid-flight on flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The attack forced the plane, carrying over 170 passengers, to divert to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Despite being injured, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, preventing a potential disaster. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called him a 'true hero' who saved 174 lives. Indian PM Narendra Modi praised his 'immense courage' in a video call, and US President Donald Trump also commended his actions. Machchhar, who has over 9,750 flying hours, is recovering in Abu Dhabi. The attacker reportedly tried to crash the plane but was overpowered by a passenger and crew member. The incident has sparked widespread praise on Indian social media.
Read sourceIndian pilot Smit Machchhar recounts cockpit fight to save 182 on Flydubai flight
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, captain of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, described his heroic struggle against a suicidal copilot who attacked him with a knife in the cockpit. Speaking from a hospital in Abu Dhabi via video link to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Machchhar said he was severely wounded and fell to the floor but forced himself to get up, realizing passengers would die if he did not. He managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to overpower the attacker. The Boeing 737 dropped from 33,000 to 17,000 feet before being stabilized. A dentist on board, Shota Musaev, treated the pilot's wounds. The attacker, an Omani national, was taken into custody in Saudi Arabia. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a terrorist attack and said the attacker was radicalized by jihadist ideology. Machchhar credited his strength to a prayer to the Hindu god Hanuman. Politicians including Modi praised his courage.
Read sourceEmotional pilot recounts moment of Flydubai attack, hailed as hero after opening cockpit door
Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot for Flydubai, has been hailed as a hero after he opened the cockpit door during an attack by his co-pilot on an Israel-bound flight, allowing passengers to overpower the attacker. The flight, which departed from Dubai, landed safely in Saudi Arabia with all on board surviving. In a visibly emotional recounting of the incident, Capt Machchhar said he fought back because he could not allow everyone on the flight to die. He received a call in his hospital bed from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The article, published by BBC News on October 2, 2026, includes a video of the pilot's account.
Read sourceIndian pilot tells Modi he opened cockpit door while being attacked on Israel-bound flight
Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, who was stabbed by his co-pilot on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, told Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a video call that he opened the cockpit door from inside while under attack to allow passengers to help control the plane's rapid descent. The incident forced the aircraft to divert to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Machchhar, hailed as a hero by both Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was hospitalized in Saudi Arabia and later airlifted to Abu Dhabi, where the Indian embassy reported he is in stable condition and recovering well. Modi praised the captain's courage, patience, and quick decision-making for saving many lives.
Read sourceFlydubai co-pilot assaulted captain before landing, initial Saudi probe finds
An initial Saudi investigation has found that a Flydubai co-pilot assaulted the captain before landing, according to Al Jazeera. The incident occurred on a Tel Aviv-bound flight, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said was prevented from becoming 'another 9/11.' The co-pilot allegedly attempted to crash the aircraft, but the captain and crew managed to regain control. Reuters reported the foiled attack clouds the revival of regional airlines. Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Iran will be hit 'very hard' if it is found to be behind the co-pilot's actions. An aviation expert described FlyDubai's recovery from an extreme deep dive during the attack as 'extraordinary.' The incident has drawn significant international attention and raised security concerns.
Read sourceNetanyahu says Flydubai attacker had Islamist radical indoctrination, aimed to down plane
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that investigations suggest the attacker who stabbed a fellow pilot and attempted to take over Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv had undergone 'Islamist radical indoctrination'. The plane plunged more than 17,000 feet before passengers and crew subdued the attacker and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu told Fox News it was 'very likely' the attacker, an Omani national, intended to down the plane, noting he was suicidal. The UAE has begun investigations into possible terrorist links. US President Donald Trump and UAE officials have indicated Iran may be responsible, without definitive blame. Netanyahu stressed no firm conclusions on motive yet, but acknowledged a loophole allowing the pilot to fly to Israel despite Oman lacking diplomatic ties. The stabbed pilot, Indian national Capt Smit Machchhar, was praised as a hero by Netanyahu and Indian PM Modi. Flydubai has suspended Dubai-Tel Aviv flights, and Israeli airlines plan rescue flights.
Read sourceNetanyahu says Omani co-pilot of flydubai plane underwent Islamic radicalization
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the Omani co-pilot of a flydubai aircraft had undergone Islamic radicalization, according to reports from Axios, Reuters, and CNN. The incident involved an attempted hijacking or attack on the plane, which was thwarted by the Indian pilot and an Israeli passenger who said he knew what to do after watching a TV show. Netanyahu told CNN that the hero pilot who fought off the hijack attempt prevented a 'disaster for Israel.' The Washington Post also published a profile of the Indian pilot who fought off the cockpit attacker. The event has drawn significant international attention, with multiple news outlets covering the details and implications.
Read sourceNetanyahu says FlyDubai pilot prevented another 9/11 after cockpit attack
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the pilot of a Tel Aviv-bound FlyDubai flight prevented a potential mass-casualty event, likening it to another 9/11. The incident involved an attack on the cockpit, which was thwarted by the pilot and passengers. Netanyahu claimed the co-pilot had undergone radical Islamist indoctrination. Multiple news outlets, including Fox News, Reuters, AP News, and The Washington Post, reported on the event, highlighting the actions of passengers, including a plumber and a dentist, who helped subdue the attacker. Netanyahu later met with some of the passengers who assisted in stopping the midair catastrophe.
Read sourceIndian pilot hailed as hero after fighting off apparent hijack attempt on Flydubai flight to Israel
Multiple news outlets report that an Indian pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar, is being hailed as a hero after fighting off an apparent hijack attempt on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Passengers described terror onboard as the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the pilot in an attempt to crash the plane. Passengers reportedly helped foil the bid. The UAE is investigating whether the attack was terrorist activity. The incident has been covered by CNN, Reuters, the Financial Times, and The New York Times, with CNN publishing a profile of the pilot described as a 'jovial' father.