Flydubai copilot’s identity and motive still unknown after stabbing on flight to Israel
Investigators in Saudi Arabia and the UAE are probing a cockpit attack that forced Flydubai Flight FZ1073 to divert to Tabuk; passengers and crew helped land the plane safely.
What we know: The identity and motive of an Omani copilot who stabbed the captain on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv remained unknown on Thursday, Euronews reported, citing Associated Press and AFP. Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 Max 8 carrying 174 people, diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday after a cockpit altercation, according to Gulf News and the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority.
Flightradar24 data showed the aircraft descending from about 33,000–34,000 feet to roughly 15,000–17,000 feet in about a minute before making an erratic path near the Jordanian border and landing in Tabuk, Euronews and Gulf News reported. The plane transmitted emergency code 7700 and later 7500, the international code for unlawful interference, Gulf News said.
How the plane was saved: Israeli passengers and crew said the bloodied Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, opened the cockpit door so responders could grapple with the copilot and stabilize the descent, Euronews reported. Flydubai said on-duty crew traveling on the flight secured the aircraft and diverted it safely. Tabuk airport said the captain and first officer were injured and taken to hospital; all passengers later continued to Tel Aviv on a replacement aircraft, Gulf News reported.
Machchhar was in stable condition, the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him a “HERO,” writing that his courage “helped save hundreds of lives,” Euronews reported. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he would present “heroism” awards to four Israelis who helped overpower the copilot.
Official responses: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacker was an Omani national being interrogated in Saudi Arabia and that Israel would join the questioning after he spoke with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Euronews reported. The UAE attorney general ordered a probe that will examine whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity, state media said. Flydubai suspended flights to and from Israel pending the investigation; Emirates suspended its codeshare operations with Flydubai on the Tel Aviv route, Gulf News reported.
U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters he discussed the incident with Netanyahu and that the copilot “was perhaps a terrorist or perhaps a whack job,” Euronews reported. Netanyahu said Israel had received no specific warning. The U.S. State Department said four passengers had American citizenship.
What is still unresolved: Saudi and UAE authorities have confirmed investigations are underway but have not publicly confirmed Netanyahu’s account of an attempted crash or named a motive. Flydubai urged against premature speculation while authorities gather facts. The incident came days before the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel.
What this means: A commercial flight bound for Israel was forced into an emergency landing after violence in the cockpit; passengers and crew prevented a worse outcome, while investigators still have not said why the attack happened.
Sources
- Euronews — Attacker’s identity and motive unknown after flydubai flight to Israel escapes disaster after pilot stabbed
- Gulf News — flydubai FZ1073: What happened on board and what we know so far
- The Hill (AP) — Attacker’s identity and motive remain unknown after FlyDubai flight to Israel escapes disaster