Documentary by flydubai passenger to detail hijacking

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Filmmaker Eyal Datz, who was on board flydubai Flight 1073 during its hijacking attempt, is creating a documentary that documents the efforts of the 174 Israeli passengers to thwart the attacker and safely land the plane in Saudi Arabia. The film will feature unreleased footage and passenger interviews to shed light on the incident and investigate potential security failures that allowed the hijacking attempt.

Documentary filmmaker Eyal Datz, who was aboard flydubai Flight 1073 during a recent hijacking attempt, is producing a film that chronicles the tense ordeal experienced by the flight’s 174 Israeli passengers. The flight, which safely landed in Saudi Arabia, saw passengers work together to subdue the hijacker, averting what could have been a catastrophic event.

KAN 11 and KAN Box announced the documentary project, highlighting that it will incorporate previously unreleased footage captured on board the aircraft and during its time on the ground in Saudi Arabia. The film aims to provide new firsthand accounts from passengers, detailing their responses during the incident, as well as examining alleged security lapses that allowed the hijacking attempt to occur.

Datz began conducting interviews with fellow passengers just days after returning to Israel. His film intends to explore the diverse backgrounds of the Israelis involved, united by their shared focus on survival in an unexpected crisis.

Known for his previous work with KAN, including documentaries such as Something Spicy, Ten Days in October, and I Will Hide My Face, Datz has also produced Ritual and Tomorrow Is Already Gone, projects that have been featured at numerous film festivals domestically and internationally. This latest documentary continues his examination of compelling personal narratives within broader socio-political contexts.

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