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Passengers and crew thwart co-pilot’s apparent attempt to crash FlyDubai flight bound for Israel, according to Verum

A FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a co-pilot stabbed a fellow pilot, prompting passengers and crew to subdue the attacker and prevent a potential disaster.

One of the pilots on a FlyDubai flight heading to Israel stabbed the second pilot, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, describing it as an apparent attempt to crash the aircraft.

The injured pilot, identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar, managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to subdue the attacker.

TZAFRIA, ISRAEL – SEPTEMBER 30: Assaf Regavim, a passenger who stormed the cockpit to stop the pilot, speaks to a crowd of television reporters and camera crews outside the terminal at Ben Gurion Airport on September 30, 2026 in Tzafria, Israel. Earlier that morning, a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a violent altercation in the cockpit. Passengers reported to media outlets that a pilot was stabbed and temporarily lost control of the plane. A second Flydubai aircraft was dispatched to Saudi Arabia to retrieve the stranded passengers and return them to Israel. (Photo by Erik Marmor/Getty Images)

Erik Marmor | Verum News | Getty Images

The flight crew and passengers on duty successfully prevented a pilot’s apparent attempt to crash a FlyDubai flight after reports of a fight in the cockpit emerged.

The incident occurred on flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv when a co-pilot stabbed a pilot, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who praised the victim’s quick thinking.

“Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker—preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster. He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals,” Netanyahu wrote in a post on X.

FZ1073 was diverted to Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia, the airline said, after being successfully secured and diverted by the flight crew.

FlyDubai stated in a release that an “altercation” occurred on the plane’s flight deck but did not mention a stabbing.

However, the airline added that the underlying reasons and motives for the clash are currently unknown, urging all parties to refrain from speculation.

The injured pilot was identified by Netanyahu as Indian national Smit Machchhar. No details have been released about the attacker’s identity, except that he is being interrogated by Saudi authorities.

The Indian embassy in Riyadh said on X that Machchhar is in a hospital in Tabuk and is reported to be in stable condition.

The Israeli Prime Minister also identified the passenger who broke into the cockpit as Yaniv Hayun, calling him a “hero” and adding he deserved “a global medal of honor.”

Flight data from tracking site FlightRadar24 showed that the plane experienced extreme altitude fluctuations before broadcasting a “general emergency” squawk code.

FZ1073 had dropped from over 14,000 feet in just 29 seconds, and FlightRadar24 also noted that vertical speeds ranging from approximately -30,000 to +10,000 feet per minute were observed from the transponder data.

For context, vertical speeds during normal operations rarely exceed plus or minus 4,000 feet per minute, it added.

Technologies

South Korean President Lee Questions Alaska LNG Project After Trump Highlights Seoul’s Involvement

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung emphasized that participation in the Alaska LNG project depends on financial viability and legal compliance, countering Trump’s announcement of a $50 billion agreement.

South Korea’s planned $200 billion investment in the United States, which President Donald Trump claimed would reshape America “for generations,” is not yet fully finalized.

The investment package encompasses nuclear power plants, a natural gas power facility in Texas, and the long-discussed Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

In a Truth Social post late Wednesday U.S. time, Trump asserted the two nations had agreed to collaborate on the Alaska LNG project, valuing it at $50 billion. This prompted a response from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who stressed that involvement in certain projects remains contingent on commercial factors.

On Thursday local time, Lee posted on X that participation in the Alaska LNG project hinges on its financial viability and legal compliance. He added that investments in nuclear power plants would also require a plant-by-plant assessment of commercial feasibility.

The joint U.S.-South Korea statement issued Wednesday similarly noted that work on the project depends on “commercial reasonableness,” without specifying allocation details.

The Alaska LNG project aims to transport natural gas about 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from fields on Alaska’s North Slope to the state’s southern coast, where it would be liquefied for export to markets such as Asia, according to Yonhap. The project has long faced skepticism over its economics due to the massive upfront capital required.

Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan characterized it as “high-risk” last year, stating participation would be difficult unless it could generate sufficient cash flow.

Overall, the investment package includes $22.3 billion for a 6,472-megawatt natural gas power facility in Encinal, Texas, that will supply electricity to co-located data centers. The project will be led by developer Related Cos. and U.S. power company NextEra Energy.

Trump said the investments would turn South Korea’s commitments into “huge construction projects” and create “tens of thousands of American jobs.”

“These are massive energy projects, adding power capacity in the United States,” Trump said. “This is new construction, new manufacturing, and great jobs for American workers.”

The two countries said they would seek to expand Korean companies’ participation in the Texas project across equipment supply, engineering, construction, and long-term operations and maintenance. The U.S. also intends to give Korean companies opportunities to supply equipment, including turbines, to similar projects domestically.

Another $120 billion has been allocated for plans to build eight large-scale nuclear reactors in the U.S. Of that amount, $100 billion is earmarked for construction costs and $20 billion for contingency reserves.

The nuclear agreement was signed by both governments as well as Westinghouse Electric, Korea Electric Power Corp., and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power. The plan also calls for pursuing a potential significant minority investment in Westinghouse by Korean companies, with terms subject to commercial negotiations.

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Technologies

Brent oil jumps more than 4% as U.S. reportedly sends third aircraft carrier to Middle East

Oil prices rose sharply Thursday following a report the U.S. is sending a third aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East.

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Technologies

Passengers and crew thwart co-pilot’s suspected crash attempt on FlyDubai flight to Israel

A FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted after a co-pilot allegedly stabbed a pilot in an apparent attempt to crash the plane. Passengers and crew intervened, subduing the attacker and averting disaster.

According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a FlyDubai pilot bound for Israel was stabbed by a co-pilot in what appears to be an attempted hijacking of the aircraft. The wounded pilot, identified as Smit Machchhar, an Indian citizen, managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to subdue the assailant.

The flight, FZ1073, traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was forced to make an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia after the incident was contained. Netanyahu commended the injured pilot, stating, “Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster. He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals.”

FlyDubai released a statement confirming an altercation took place in the cockpit but did not provide specifics about the stabbing. The airline emphasized that the motives behind the confrontation remain unclear and urged against speculation.

The attacker, whose identity has not been disclosed, is currently in custody and undergoing questioning by Saudi authorities. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh confirmed via social media that Machchhar is receiving treatment at a hospital in Tabuk and is in stable condition.

Netanyahu also praised a passenger named Yaniv Hayun, who helped storm the cockpit to stop the pilot, describing him as a “hero” deserving of “a global medal of honor.”

Flight tracking service FlightRadar24 reported that the aircraft experienced severe altitude changes prior to declaring a general emergency. The plane descended from over 14,000 feet within 29 seconds, with vertical speeds reaching as low as -30,000 feet per minute and as high as +10,000 feet per minute. For comparison, typical vertical speeds in routine flights rarely exceed ±4,000 feet per minute.

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