Cockpit Attack Foiled
Flydubai flight diverted to Saudi Arabia after co-pilot allegedly attacks captain in cockpit
Anonymous
Flydubai flight FZ1073, carrying 174 passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv, diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar during a cockpit confrontation and the aircraft rapidly descended. Israeli officials said the co-pilot may have tried to crash the plane, while Flydubai said the cause of the altercation was unknown and an investigation was underway. Machchhar reportedly resisted despite his injuries and opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to intervene; reserve pilots took control and landed the aircraft safely. All passengers and crew were reported safe, and Machchhar was in stable condition in hospital; the suspected attacker was arrested. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Machchhar and those who intervened, and U.S. President Donald Trump also called the pilot a hero while recounting Netanyahu’s account.
Key Points
1
Flightradar24 data cited by The Times of India showed the aircraft dropping more than 14,000 feet—from 30,875 feet to 16,750 feet—in 29 seconds, with a descent rate of about 30,000 feet per minute.
2
Media reports said 166 of the flight’s 174 passengers were Israeli.
3
The Times of India reported that the aircraft’s rudder detached during the sharp plunge. It also said two additional pilots were aboard as passengers and took over after the cockpit was secured.
4
The Times of India reported that Machchhar is from Mumbai and had worked for SpiceJet for about a decade, until 2023.
5
Netanyahu met passenger Yaniv and his family at Ben Gurion Airport after the passengers returned to Israel, praising Yaniv as a “lion-man” for his role in restraining the co-pilot, according to Moneycontrol.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
144
Articles
219
Reach
363
A
AnonymousAuthor
