Crew and passengers on duty managed to thwart an apparent attempt by a pilot to crash a Flydubai flight after reports surfaced of a scuffle in the cockpit.
The incident on Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv occurred when the co-pilot stabbed the pilot, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, praising the victim’s quick thinking.
“Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, and opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the attackers and preventing a catastrophic aerial disaster. He saved 174 lives, including Israeli citizens and others,” Netanyahu wrote in a post on X.
According to the airline, flight FZ1073 was safely secured by the crew and diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
flydubai said in a statement that an “altercation” had occurred on the plane’s flight deck, but did not mention the stabbing.
However, the airline added that the underlying reasons and motives for the collision are unknown at this time and called on all parties to refrain from speculation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu identified the injured pilot as Sumit Machar, an Indian national. No details about the attacker’s identity have been released, other than that he is being questioned by Saudi authorities.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh said in a statement that Machachar was admitted to a hospital in Tabuk and his condition was reported to be stable.
The Israeli prime minister also identified the passenger who broke into the cockpit as Yaniv Hayun, calling him a “hero” and adding that he deserves a “worldwide medal of honor.”
Flight data from tracking site FlightRadar24 showed the plane was experiencing extreme altitude fluctuations before broadcasting the “general emergency” squawk code.
FlightRadar24 added that FZ1073 fell from an altitude of more than 14,000 feet in just 29 seconds, and transponder data showed vertical velocities ranging from approximately -30,000 feet per minute to +10,000 feet per minute.
For context, he added that vertical speeds during normal operations rarely exceed plus or minus 4,000 feet per minute.
