A co-pilot aboard a FlyDubai passenger jet allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft as it approached Israel on Wednesday, in what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as a "very serious security incident." The Boeing 737 MAX, operating as Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, plunged more than 4,000 metres in under 30 seconds before passengers stormed the cockpit, overpowered the co-pilot and enabled two off-duty pilots travelling on board to take control and divert the plane safely to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
What happened aboard FlyDubai Flight FZ1073
The drama unfolded at approximately 6:30am UTC, more than two hours into the flight. Aviation tracking data recorded extreme altitude fluctuations — the aircraft appeared to drop roughly 14,125 feet in just 29 seconds — before an emergency transponder code was broadcast, initially indicating a general emergency and then briefly switching to a code associated with unlawful interference.
Witnesses described chaos inside the cabin. One passenger, aged 70, said he heard a woman screaming that someone was being stabbed in the cockpit before the plane began shaking and nosediving toward the ground. Another passenger's mother recounted her daughter's terror as the aircraft "started to go down and shake," describing the ordeal as "crazy, like a movie."
The injured captain — identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar — is reported to have used his remaining strength while lying bloodied on the cockpit floor to release the door lock, allowing passengers to rush in. Three men, named by Israeli President Isaac Herzog as Yaniv Hayoun, Tzvika Manes and Asaf Rajuan, physically subdued the co-pilot. A fourth passenger, dentist Dr Shota Musayev, treated the wounded captain on the spot. All four are to receive the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism.
Video footage from inside the aircraft appeared to show two people lying on the floor with visible injuries as fellow passengers crowded around them. Airport operator Cluster2 confirmed both the captain and first officer were hospitalised after the plane landed at Tabuk's Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport.
Israeli leaders call it a jihadist terror attack
Netanyahu, who met passengers after they were later flown on to Tel Aviv aboard a second FlyDubai aircraft, said almost all 174 people on board were Israeli. "As they approached Israel, one of the pilots stabbed the other," he said. "It appears he attempted to crash the plane with everyone on board. They saved many lives and averted a terrible disaster."
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz went further, declaring the incident "a jihadist terrorist attack attempt" that was thwarted only through the bravery of passengers who broke into the cockpit and physically restored control of the aircraft. The co-pilot, reported to be an Omani national who has not been publicly named, is under arrest and being interrogated by Saudi authorities.
However, the airline and investigators have urged caution. FlyDubai said the "underlying reasons and motives behind this event are unknown and remain subject to a formal investigation," urging all parties to avoid premature speculation. Some Israeli sources, speaking without attribution, characterised the co-pilot as a possible "lone wolf" rather than part of a broader network — though no formal finding has been made.
The incident prompted the Israeli military to scramble at least two fighter jets as the emergency unfolded, and the Israel Airports Authority opened a dedicated waiting and information area at Ben Gurion Airport for families of passengers.
Australians among those on board
Two Australians were confirmed to be among the 174 passengers on the flight. Australian couple Steven and Carol Moss were on board when the aircraft plunged. Steven Moss, son of a Holocaust survivor who founded the Katies retail chain, said he was struggling after the ordeal and did not wish to speak publicly. Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed both Australians were safe.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry's co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said the incident carried echoes of past atrocities. "This horrific incident, reminiscent of Palestinian hijackings in the 1970s and of 9/11, reminds us that we have to maintain vigilance and readiness in the fight against terror," he said.
For more background on the FlyDubai flight's emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, including earlier details as the story broke, see our previous coverage.
What happens next
FlyDubai confirmed all passengers were ultimately transported safely to Tel Aviv. The co-pilot remains in Saudi custody pending a formal investigation. Israeli authorities are continuing their own inquiry, and the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism is set to be conferred on the four passengers credited with saving the flight. FlyDubai is a low-cost carrier and the sister airline of Emirates.
The incident raises fresh questions about cockpit security protocols on international routes — particularly those serving Israel, which has faced elevated threat environments in recent years. For context on broader Australia–Israel relations, see our recent reporting on diplomatic developments between the two countries.
