Flydubai Flight Diverts to Saudi Arabia After Co-Pilot Stabs Pilot

A routine commercial journey across the Middle East transformed into a harrowing mid-air struggle when a cockpit confrontation nearly brought down a passenger jet. The flight, operated by flydubai, was travelling from the United Arab Emirates toward Israel when the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with a knife.

According to accounts provided by Israeli officials, the co-pilot intended to crash the aircraft and kill everyone on board. Flight-tracking services recorded the jet broadcasting emergency transponder codes as the situation unfolded in the region's airspace.

The Mid-Air Plunge and Cockpit Struggle

During the violent altercation inside the flight deck, the aircraft experienced a sudden and catastrophic loss of altitude. Depending on tracking data and official accounts, the jet descended anywhere from more than 14,000 feet to approximately 17,000 feet in a span ranging from under thirty seconds to two minutes, dropping sharply from its cruising altitude.

Passenger Yaniv Hayoun recounted hearing screams and feeling intense pressure as the plane plummeted. Speaking after the ordeal, Mr. Hayoun described forcing his way into the cockpit alongside other passengers and crew members to find the attacker positioned near the instrument panel.

"I grabbed the attacker, put him in a chokehold, and dragged him out first. He was trying to destroy the instruments to disable the plane."

Yaniv Hayoun, Passenger, via The Guardian

Off-duty pilots travelling as passengers—including a British pilot and other relief crew members—rushed to the flight deck to assist. According to passenger Almog Itali, the off-duty pilot pulled the aircraft up and helped stabilise the controls. Meanwhile, passengers restrained the suspect initially using headphone cords before securing him with plastic zip ties. Dentist Dr. Shota Mosaev, the only medical doctor on board, noted that the suspect did not resist once restrained, quietly sitting down.

Emergency Medical Response and Injuries

Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national piloting the flight, sustained severe injuries during the knife attack. Dr. Mosaev rushed to the cockpit to treat the captain, finding him covered in deep wounds to his head and hands.

"He was covered in cuts. His head and his hands were practically sliced open, almost severed in two. He was in serious condition, not critical perhaps, but serious because of the blood loss."

Dr. Shota Mosaev, Passenger and Treating Physician, via The Daily Jagran

Dr. Mosaev worked to stabilize Captain Machchhar as his blood pressure dropped and he began losing consciousness. The captain's actions during the attack proved vital. According to an account from the Israeli Prime Minister's office, the injured captain used his remaining energy to unlock the cockpit door from the floor, enabling passengers and crew to enter and overpower the attacker.

Emergency Landing and Official Reactions

The crippled aircraft diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it made a safe emergency landing. Saudi authorities took the co-pilot into custody for questioning. While initial reports cited by Israeli officials identified the accused co-pilot as an Omani citizen, flydubai and local investigators have not formally disclosed his identity.

Flight Detail	Reported Data
Route	Dubai to Tel Aviv
Altitude Drop	14,000 to 17,000 feet in under 2 minutes
Emergency Divert	Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
Passenger Count	Approx. 170 to 180 passengers

World leaders praised the swift actions of the crew and passengers. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauded the intervention at a briefing. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Captain Machchhar as a hero, while U.S. President Donald Trump also commended the pilot's bravery in fighting off the attacker and calling for help.

Israeli officials characterized the event in stark geopolitical terms. Defense Minister Israel Katz called the incident a jihadist terrorist attack attempt, while Ambassador to Australia Hillel Newman warned that the event targeted the peace established by the Abraham Accords.

Aftermath and Next Steps

Passengers spent hours in Saudi Arabia before boarding replacement flydubai aircraft to complete their journey to Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv. The Australian embassy confirmed that a Sydney couple was among the passengers on board.

In response to the incident, flydubai announced the suspension of its flights to and from Israel while investigations proceed. The airline stated that the motives behind the attack remain unknown and subject to formal inquiry. Investigators are expected to analyze the aircraft's cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder to reconstruct the exact timeline of the cockpit confrontation. Authorities in multiple jurisdictions continue to monitor the health of Captain Machchhar, whose condition remains a focus for the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Indian Consulate in Jeddah.