Overview
- A violent cockpit altercation on Wednesday on Flydubai flight FZ1073 led to one pilot being stabbed, a sudden multi‑thousand‑foot descent and emergency transponder codes that signalled a possible hijack.
- Passengers, on‑duty Flydubai crew traveling on the flight and two reserve pilots intervened to subdue the suspected attacker and then diverted and landed the Boeing 737 MAX safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- Both pilots were taken to hospital in Tabuk; Israeli officials have identified the injured captain as Smit Machchhar and described the other pilot as an Omani national who was arrested and is being questioned by Saudi authorities.
- Flydubai said all passengers were safe and returned to Israel on replacement aircraft, and the airline temporarily suspended flights to and from Israel while Israeli, Saudi, Emirati and carrier investigations proceed.
- The incident raises security and operational questions about cockpit access, in‑flight crew procedures and screening, and officials are examining flight data, who set the emergency codes and the attacker’s motive as part of a coordinated inquiry.