- Flydubai flight FZ1073 landed safely in Tabuk with 174 people aboard after a cockpit altercation.
- Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed, but passengers and crew overpowered the attacker after he opened or unlocked the cockpit door.
- Israeli officials praised the captain, while accounts differed on the attacker’s identity, alleged motive, and number of people aboard.
Flydubai Flight FZ1073 diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, after Indian captain Capt. Smit Machchhar was stabbed in the cockpit. The aircraft landed safely with 174 people on board. The Hero Indian Captain was praised by Israeli officials after passengers and crew helped stop the attacker.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Machchhar “a true hero.” He said the pilot’s actions prevented what he described as “a catastrophic mid-air disaster.”
“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.”
Netanyahu said Machchhar “saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals.” He added: “I salute these heroes who demonstrated extraordinary resourcefulness and courage. They saved many lives and prevented a major disaster.”
Officials praised the crew, but differed over what happened
Machchhar’s intervention came during the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight, which was diverted to northwestern Saudi Arabia. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz called the incident an “attempted jihadist terror attack.” Other Israeli officials characterized it as an attempted hijacking or an effort to crash the plane.
Doron Spielman, a spokesman for the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, initially described it as a “different incident.” At that stage, he said, it was “not believed to have been a hijacking.” Officials’ descriptions therefore varied as the incident unfolded.
Some accounts identified the attacker as the co-pilot. One Israeli official said the co-pilot had “tried to do 9/11 – either hijack the plane to the ground or crash it.” Another official described the flight as “a jihadist terrorist attack attempt, which was thwarted only thanks to the bravery of several Israeli passengers who broke into the cockpit and overpowered the terrorist.”
The 180 figure and the 9/11 comparison remain attributed claims
Netanyahu’s account put the number aboard at 174. Other reports described about 180 passengers and crew, while far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir claimed the attacker intended to “crash a plane and murder the 180 Israelis on board.” Those accounts do not establish a single confirmed passenger count.
The phrase “Second 9/11 terror attack” reflects political and media descriptions of the alleged plan to crash the aircraft. The research available does not identify a court or official investigation finding that confirmed that motive.
Ben-Gvir called the attacker a “terrorist.” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich wrote, “The State of Israel must address the intent and not the results.” The two statements focused on alleged intent, rather than the plane’s safe landing.
The plane landed in Tabuk as Machchhar received treatment
The aircraft reached Tabuk Airport at 06:58 after the diversion. India’s Embassy in Riyadh said Machchhar was admitted to a hospital in Tabuk city, in northwest Saudi Arabia, and was receiving medical attention. He was reported in stable condition.
Flydubai described the incident as an “altercation in the cockpit.” The airline said the on-duty crew diverted the aircraft and landed it safely. Reports also said the incident prompted Israeli security concern, including the scrambling of fighter jets.
Accounts said Machchhar opened or unlocked the cockpit door after being stabbed, allowing passengers and crew to enter and overpower the attacker. The door opened the way for their intervention. The aircraft then completed its diversion to Saudi Arabia rather than continuing to Tel Aviv.
Machchhar had previously flown for SpiceJet, and one report put his flying experience at nearly 10,000 hours. His actions aboard FZ1073 drew public praise from Netanyahu and other Israeli officials after the flight landed.
