Overview
- What happened: Two hours into the Dubai–Tel Aviv flight on Wednesday the co‑pilot allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchar in the cockpit, the aircraft plunged about 17,400 feet according to flight data, and the crew sent a distress call including ICAO code 7500 for unlawful interference.
- Passengers and cabin crew overpowered and bound the co‑pilot on board, video circulated showing him kneeling with hands tied, and the plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia where medical checks were performed.
- Custody and transfers: Saudi authorities detained the co‑pilot after landing and, after medical clearance, handed him to UAE officials who now hold him while the UAE, Saudi, Israel and India conduct parallel investigations.
- Evidence under review: Investigators are examining the cockpit altercation, flight‑tracking records, the 7500 transmission and the co‑pilot’s social media, which Israeli officials say contained anti‑Jewish posts, but no final motive or criminal charge has been publicly confirmed.
- Wider impact: The case has prompted scrutiny of crew vetting and cockpit safety procedures, raised questions about cross‑border coordination for in‑flight incidents, and drawn public statements from leaders including President Trump who suggested an Iran link as an unconfirmed lead.