A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after the co-pilot stabbed the captain and allegedly attempted to crash the plane, officials and passengers reported. The incident, which occurred over Saudi and Jordanian airspace, involved a sharp descent of approximately 17,000 feet within a minute, prompting a swift and coordinated response from passengers, crew, and regional authorities.
The Boeing 737 Max 8, carrying 174 passengers—including around 166 Israeli citizens—and several crew members, was traveling from Dubai when the co-pilot reportedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, with a knife. Witnesses described hearing a struggle behind the cockpit door, followed by the aircraft entering a violent nosedive with overhead bins and luggage dislodged. Amid the chaos, passengers and crew members forcibly entered the cockpit, restrained the co-pilot, and assisted the wounded captain.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the attacker, identified by multiple sources as an Omani national, had attempted to crash the airplane deliberately. Netanyahu praised the passengers and crew for their quick action, hailing them as heroes who prevented a catastrophe. “Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, [the captain] fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker—preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster,” he said. The captain was transported to a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, in stable condition.
Passengers recounted moments of terror during the incident. Many said they believed they would not survive as the plane plummeted from cruising altitude, some praying and comforting children throughout the ordeal. Videos released showed bloodied individuals and the aftermath of the struggle in the cabin. One passenger described the aircraft’s rapid descent as similar to extreme turbulence, with violent g-forces pressing people to their seats.
Following the altercation, two additional pilots onboard—reported to be a South African and a New Zealander—assumed control of the aircraft and successfully landed it at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk at approximately 9:45 a.m. local time. The Israeli air force scrambled fighter jets amid fears of a hijacking, but the planes did not enter Saudi Arabian airspace. Saudi authorities arrested the co-pilot, who remains in custody as investigations proceed.
Flydubai announced the suspension of its flights to and from Israel pending the outcome of the ongoing inquiry. Regional aviation authorities, including those from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have launched investigations into the security breach. Israeli officials also intensified security measures surrounding flights to Israel, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar coordinating with his counterpart in the UAE to address the threat posed by extremist elements.
The motive behind the co-pilot's actions remains unclear. Israeli defense officials described the event as an attempted "jihadist terror attack." However, Flydubai and some regional authorities have called for caution against premature conclusions until investigations are complete. The incident has renewed concerns about aviation security in the region, particularly amid heightened tensions following the Hamas-led attacks on Israel in October 2023 and in the run-up to Israel’s upcoming national elections.
The event represents a rare in-flight attack involving pilots and has drawn comparisons to previous hijacking incidents, though the last decades saw few such cases targeting Israel-bound flights. Authorities continue to probe how the individual could be cleared to operate the flight, given the geopolitical complexities and security protocols governing air travel into Israeli airspace. Meanwhile, passengers who intervened have been recognized by Israeli officials for their bravery and quick response, which averted a potential disaster.