The co-pilot of a flydubai passenger flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the plane in an incident that was averted when passengers and crew intervened, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday. The flight, carrying more than 170 passengers, rapidly lost over 14,000 feet before safely diverting to Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia, where a reserve crew completed the landing.
Netanyahu described the co-pilot, identified as an Omani national, as having undergone Islamist radicalization and being suicidal at the time of the attack. “It looks very likely that he was going to down the plane,” Netanyahu said in an interview, citing security assessments and personal information about the suspect. The prime minister did not provide further evidence or details about the radicalization but emphasized ongoing investigations.
Israeli and Western officials confirmed the dramatic struggle for control in the cockpit took place over Saudi Arabian airspace. According to Israeli security sources, the captain was stabbed during the attack but managed to unlock the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to overpower the assailant before the plane diverted safely. An Indian pilot, Smit Machchar, who was at the controls, was praised for his role, and he was reported to be recovering well.
The United Arab Emirates has launched an investigation to determine the motives behind the co-pilot’s actions, exploring if there was any terrorism-related planning or external direction. Israeli officials noted that investigations are ongoing, with Israeli intelligence agencies, including Mossad and Shin Bet, involved. However, Israel has indicated it has not yet received full information from Saudi authorities, who have not publicly commented on the case. Omani officials have also remained silent.
There has been no confirmed indication of Iranian involvement despite security concerns in the region and heightened tensions following recent US and Israeli strikes against Iran-linked groups. Israeli security officials have not identified Iranian participation, and Israeli military officials described the incident as a “serious security event” rather than explicitly labeling it as terrorism.
The attack occurred weeks ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections, a period marked by heightened security awareness following the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. The incident has stirred political and security debates within Israel, with some observers concerned about its potential impact on the electoral campaign.
In the aftermath, various social media platforms saw a rapid surge in conspiracy theories falsely claiming Israeli orchestration of the event, including allegations framing the incident as a “false flag” operation to manipulate political outcomes. Analysts monitoring these trends highlighted how quickly antisemitic and conspiratorial narratives emerged, drawing parallels to historical disinformation patterns aimed at sowing division and promoting hostility against Israel and Jewish communities. These claims were widely discredited by experts who condemned them as unfounded and rooted in longstanding prejudices.
Passengers who helped restrain the co-pilot received commendations from Israeli and Indian officials, with eyewitness accounts describing their quick action to regain control as the plane descended sharply. The investigation into the incident continues as authorities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Oman coordinate efforts to clarify the circumstances and prevent similar threats in the future.