A passenger aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has recounted how he helped overpower an attacker who allegedly stabbed the pilot mid-air, as passengers and two off-duty pilots intervened to prevent a potential aviation disaster.
The passenger, identified as Yaniv, said he joined other passengers in restraining the attacker after the injured captain managed to open the cockpit door during a tense struggle.
Flydubai Flight 1073 reportedly issued a distress signal before making an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, at 8:44 a.m. local time. The aircraft was carrying approximately 150 passengers when the incident occurred.
According to reports, an argument allegedly broke out between the captain and co-pilot before the pilot was stabbed, causing the aircraft to descend approximately 15,000 feet within minutes.
Two off-duty pilots, including a British national, reportedly entered the cockpit and helped regain control of the aircraft as passengers struggled to subdue the alleged attacker.
Passenger Recounts Dramatic Cockpit Struggle
Yaniv, who participated in restraining the attacker, recounted the terrifying experience during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He explained that the injured pilot was positioned close to the cockpit door, making it difficult for passengers to gain access. However, the captain managed to unlock and open the door before collapsing.
“One was down, one was on the instruments. And another guy came in with me. I grabbed the attacker, put him in a chokehold, and pulled him – first and foremost – outside,” Yaniv said.
He alleged that the attacker was attempting to damage the aircraft’s instruments to disable the plane.
Yaniv said he called on other Israeli passengers to assist, after which they pinned the suspect down to prevent further attacks.
The passenger also revealed that he briefly pulled the aircraft’s controls while the situation was unfolding.
When Netanyahu asked whether he had taken control of the aircraft, Yaniv replied that he had watched Air Crash Investigation, suggesting that the programme had given him some familiarity with aviation emergencies.
He said the aircraft began to level out before the pilot informed him that he was taking over control.
Netanyahu Praises Indian Pilot Smit Machchhar
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu identified the injured captain as Indian national Captain Smit Machchhar, praising his actions during the emergency.
In a statement shared on X, Netanyahu described Machchhar as a hero who continued resisting the attacker despite sustaining serious injuries.
According to Netanyahu, the captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to overpower the alleged attacker and avert a potentially catastrophic incident.
Israeli Deputy Minister Almog Cohen also praised the pilot, describing his actions as instrumental in saving the lives of those aboard the aircraft.
Cohen said he intended to submit a bill when the next Knesset convenes to name a lounge at Ben Gurion Airport in Machchhar’s honour.
Passengers Use Charging Cables to Restrain Attacker
An Israeli passenger who spoke to the Jerusalem Post described the confusion and fear that followed the alleged stabbing.
He said he had to urge and physically shake the pilots to encourage them to move towards the cockpit and take control of the aircraft as it descended.
According to the passenger, those involved in the struggle used charging cables to restrain the alleged attacker.
An Israeli dentist aboard the flight reportedly provided medical assistance to the injured captain.
The passenger also recalled the emotional moment when a young girl, whose father was involved in the struggle near the cockpit, began screaming that she did not want him to die.
He said the incident briefly made him think about his own children, highlighting the fear experienced by passengers during the emergency.
Trump Comments on Alleged Co-Pilot Involvement
US President Donald Trump said he had spoken with Netanyahu about the incident and suggested that the co-pilot may have been responsible for the attack.
Trump said the co-pilot was possibly a terrorist or an individual experiencing other difficulties, while acknowledging that he had not received independent confirmation of the circumstances or the suspect’s motive.
Israeli officials reportedly told CNN that they were investigating the incident as a possible hijacking and examining whether terrorism was involved.
The officials also said the co-pilot was reportedly from Oman, raising questions about how he had obtained clearance to operate a flight bound for Israel.
However, the motive for the alleged attack and the precise circumstances surrounding the confrontation had not been officially established at the time of the report.
Pilot and Co-Pilot Hospitalised in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s aviation operator, Cluster2, said the captain and co-pilot were taken to hospital in Saudi Arabia after sustaining injuries during the incident.
The captain was reportedly in stable condition following the emergency landing.
The aircraft’s diversion to Tabuk allowed emergency responders to attend to the injured crew members while passengers were brought to safety.
An unverified photograph published by Israeli news outlet Nexta appeared to show a passenger inside the aircraft cabin wearing a bloodied shirt. The photograph’s authenticity and the circumstances depicted were not independently confirmed.
Investigation Underway Into Flydubai Emergency
The incident has raised questions about cockpit security, crew safety and the circumstances that led to the alleged confrontation aboard Flydubai Flight 1073.
Israeli security officials had not publicly announced the findings of their investigation at the time of the report.
Investigators are expected to establish what triggered the confrontation, the sequence of events inside the cockpit, how the alleged attacker gained access to the flight deck and whether the incident was connected to a planned act of terrorism.
The aircraft’s safe landing in Tabuk followed the reported intervention of the injured captain, off-duty pilots, cabin crew and passengers who worked together to prevent the situation from escalating into a major aviation disaster.
The investigation will be crucial in clarifying the motive behind the alleged attack and determining the full circumstances of the mid-air emergency.
