A flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was safely diverted to Saudi Arabia on September 30, 2026, after a co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft.

A flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was safely diverted to Saudi Arabia on September 30, 2026, after a co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft. [1, 2, 3]

The Incident

The Flight: flydubai Flight FZ1073 was carrying 174 people (mostly Israeli passengers) on its way to Tel Aviv. [1, 2]
The Attack: As the plane neared its destination, the first officer (identified as an Omani national) allegedly stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar in an apparent suicide attempt. [1, 2]
The Dive: The aircraft plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds during the physical struggle in the cockpit. [1, 2]
Intervention: The wounded captain fought back, and passengers and crew members broke into the cockpit to subdue the co-pilot. A second pair of flydubai pilots on board helped take control and land the jet safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. [1, 2]

Aftermath and Investigation

Passenger Safety: All passengers later boarded a replacement flight to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
Motive: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that intelligence suggested the co-pilot had undergone "Islamist radical indoctrination," though international authorities continue to investigate the full motives behind the cockpit attack. [1, 2, 3]