Stories
Flydubai Rescue Flight Lands in Israel After Mid-Air Altercation, Pilot Stabbed
N
News18•30-09-2026, 22:15
Flydubai Rescue Flight Lands in Israel After Mid-Air Altercation, Pilot Stabbed
- •A flydubai rescue flight from Saudi Arabia landed at Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel, carrying about 180 passengers, mostly Israelis, from an earlier diverted flight.
- •The original Tel Aviv-bound flight was diverted to Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia after an altercation in the cockpit, where the pilot was stabbed and severely wounded.
- •The injured pilot, identified as Indian national Captain Smit Machchhar, reportedly intervened to prevent an alleged attempt to crash the plane.
- •Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that evidence suggests the flydubai pilot stabbed his fellow pilot with an intention to crash the plane, calling it an "extremely serious security incident."
- •Netanyahu praised passengers and crew members who intervened to stop the pilot and stabilize the plane, noting that Saudi Arabian authorities are interrogating the suspect.
Key Questions Answered
The flydubai flight FZ1073 diverted to Saudi Arabia and made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport due to a cockpit altercation involving an alleged attempt to crash the plane and a pilot stabbing.
The Indian national and Dubai-based captain who was stabbed and severely wounded while trying to prevent an alleged crash attempt was identified as Captain Smit Machchhar.
The flydubai rescue flight carried about 180 passengers, most of whom were Israelis returning from the diverted Tel Aviv-bound flight.
