Benjamin Netanyahu has named the pilot who was stabbed during the attempted hijacking of the FlyDubai flight, calling him a “true hero”.
In a post on X, he wrote: “My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery. 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.”
Terrified passengers travelling on Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Israel described bloody scenes as the plane descended approximately 13,000 feet in 30 seconds during the chaos Wednesday morning.
One passenger said he put the pilot who reportedly stabbed his co-pilot mid-air “in a chokehold”.
In a video posted on social media, passenger Yaniv is seen telling Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu what happened.
He said "before he (the stabbed pilot) collapsed" he managed to open the door to the cockpit, adding: “I grabbed the attacker, put him in a chokehold, and pulled him - first and foremost - outside."
Yaniv then said he "pulled the controls [of the plane]" to level the plane out, before the stabbed pilot took control.
The pilot who attempted to hijack the plane has been arrested, and is being interrogated by Saudi authorities.
Key Points
- Netanyahu names ‘true hero’ pilot who opened cockpit door after being stabbed
- Passenger put attacker in a chokehold and took plane controls after pilot was stabbed
- Breaking: FlyDubai flights to and from Israel to be suspended
- Pilot ‘stabbed co-pilot in attempted hijacking’ on Israel-bound plane
- Passenger says pilot 'tried to crash' the plane
- Mapped: Journey of flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv
Netanyahu names ‘true hero’ Indian pilot who opened cockpit door after being stabbed on flight to Israel
00:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe pilot who fought off his co-pilot who stabbed him during an attempted midair attack on a flight to Israel has been named as Captain Smit Machchhar.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Cpt Machchhar, an Indian national, as a "true hero" for fighting back against the attacker and opening the cockpit door during the commercial flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
"My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery," Netanyahu posted on X. "Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker."
Netanyahu names ‘true hero’ Indian pilot attacked and stabbed in flight to Israel
Israel to ramp up pilot checks
22:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainIsrael is set to ramp up security checks on pilots flying into the country, a spokesperson for the prime minister's office said, after it said a co-pilot on a FlyDubai flight to Tel Aviv had stabbed the pilot and attempted to crash the plane.
The incident has sharpened questions about how pilots are vetted and what sorts of security protocols they face, including but not limited to the Middle East, according to government officials and aviation analysts.
Israel's government frequently urges Israelis and Jews to remain vigilant when travelling outside Israel, amid concerns that they could be targeted.
This comes as antisemitism has surged globally in recent years, including violent and sometimes deadly attacks against Jews.
"Every pilot that is going to be flying into Israel, we are going to know the pilots' identities, know who they are, and do some type of security check," Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for the Israeli prime minister's office, told Reuters.
He said Netanyahu had instructed authorities to "ramp up security" on flights to Israel operated by Israeli and non-Israeli carriers.
"Anywhere that an Israeli is going to be flying into Israel. Our job right now is to do our best - even if they're not on Israeli airlines - to make sure that those security procedures are much higher," Spielman said. The UAE civil aviation regulator, the GCAA, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment on how its pilots are vetted.
Netanyahu names ‘true hero’ pilot who opened cockpit door after being stabbed
21:28 , Maryam Zakir-HussainBenjamin Netanyahu has named the pilot who was stabbed during the attempted hijacking of the FlyDubai flight, calling him a “true hero”.
In a post on X, he wrote: “My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery. 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.
“He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals.
“I wish Captain Machchhar a speedy and full recovery. He is a true hero.”
My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery.
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) September 30, 2026
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…
Breaking: FlyDubai flights to and from Israel to be suspended
21:01 , Maryam Zakir-HussainFlyDubai flights to and from Israel will be suspended while the investigation continues, the airline has said in a statement.
Full clip: Passengers on diverted Israel-bound flight aid bloodied men
21:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainWatch: Netanyahu hails passengers who foiled cockpit attack on Flydubai flight
20:45 , Maryam Zakir-HussainNetanyahu names pilot stabbed on flight
20:22 , Daniel KeaneBenjamin Netanyahu has named the pilot stabbed onboard the flight as Captain Smit Machchhar.
In a post on X, the Israeli PM wrote: “My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery.
“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.
“He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals.
“I wish Captain Machchhar a speedy and full recovery.
“He is a true hero.”
Terror at 34,000ft: All we know about ‘hijacking’ attempt on flight to Israel as suspect arrested
19:34 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA pilot on an Israel-bound flight stabbed another pilot and may have deliberately tried to crash the plane before passengers wrestled back control and the aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
Flydubai flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday when it suddenly plummeted 14,000ft in less than 30 seconds, before putting out an emergency signal and changing course over Jordan.
Israeli officials said the co-pilot of the Boeing 737 plane is believed to have stabbed the captain in a possible attempted ‘terror attack’ with around 150 Israeli passengers on board.
James C. Reynolds reports:
All we know about ‘hijacking’ attempt on board flight to Israel as suspect detained
Passenger put attacker in a chokehold and took plane controls after pilot was stabbed
18:57 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA passenger told Benjamin Netanyahu that he put the hijacker “in a chokehold” to save the flight from crashing.
In a conversation with the Israeli prime minister, a passenger, Yaniv, explained what happened.
In a video posted on social media, the passenger is seen telling Netanyahu: "The pilot who was stabbed was simply very close to the door, so it was hard for us to open it."
But he says "before he (the stabbed pilot) collapsed" he managed to open the door.
"When I entered, I saw the attacker on the instruments, between the two seats... there were no pilots in the seats.
"One was down, one was on the instruments. And another guy came in with me. I grabbed the attacker, put him in a chokehold, and pulled him - first and foremost - outside."
He says the attacker was "trying to destroy the instruments in order to disable the plane".
יניב, אתה גיבור אמיתי. אנחנו עם של אריות! pic.twitter.com/55AgmAvzIG
Netanyahu embraces passenger who 'burst into cockpit' on flight
18:47 , Maryam Zakir-HussainPhotos of Benjamin Netanyahu meeting the passenger who “burst into the cockpit on the flight from Dubai to Israel” were posted on the Israeli prime minister’s X account.
The PM is seen embracing the passenger in one photo, while in another, the passenger is showing Netanyahu his sock covered in blood.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at Ben-Gurion International Airport with Yaniv, the passenger who burst into the cockpit on the flight from Dubai to Israel.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) September 30, 2026
Photos: Kobi Gideon (GPO) pic.twitter.com/PcCNzKLUKj
Pilot stabs co-pilot in attempted hijacking of Israel flight - before hero passengers avert disaster
18:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA pilot who stabbed his co-pilot on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv in an attempted hijacking wanted to crash the plane and kill everyone on board, Israel has said.
Israeli intelligence believe the pilot is an Omani jihadist who wanted to carrying out a midair terror attack, that was only prevented by the brave intervention of passengers on the Flydubai flight. An off duty British pilot also stepped in to help land the plane safely in Saudi Arabia after chaos broke out in the cabin on Wednesday.
With their clothes still covered in blood, a number of the 180 people on board described the terrifying ordeal after the plane veered off course and dramatically descended around 17,000 feet in two minutes.
Alex Croft reports:
Pilot stabs co-pilot in Israel flight hijack - before passengers avert disaster
In pictures: Passengers exit Ben Gurion International Airport
18:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainPhotos show passengers leaving Ben Gurion International Airport in Lod.
In pictures: Passengers from FlyDubai flight reunited with families
17:39 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe passengers from the FlyDubai flight were greeted by their families, waiting with balloons and flowers, in a designated area set up especially for them in the domestic arrivals hall.
US coordinating very closely with counterparts overseas on flydubai incident, attorney general says
17:03 , Maryam Zakir-HussainUS Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Wednesday that the US was coordinating "very closely" with counterparts overseas, including Israel, regarding the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv that was diverted.
Netanyahu declares attack a 'highly severe security incident'
16:30 , Maira ButtDescribing the event as “a highly severe security incident,” Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saudi authorities would interrogate the co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 from the United Arab Emirates to Israel.
An Israeli official identified the attacker as an Omani national who was arrested after the plane landed, Netanyahu said.
“All passengers are out of harm's way,” Netanyahu, who described the passengers as being almost all Israeli, said in a video statement released by his office.
The Israeli leader quoted a passenger as saying that passengers along with a member of the crew broke into the cockpit after the aircraft “entered a tailspin and began to dive” and found the co-pilot “trying to sabotage the plane's systems.”
“They saved many lives. They prevented a heavy disaster,” he said.
In pictures: Broken rudder of FlyDubai plane after 'hijacking' incident forces emergency landing
16:15 , Maira Butt
Watch: Passengers on diverted Israel-bound flight aid bloodied men
15:45 , Maira ButtBlood-covered passengers recall terrifying ordeal
15:36 , Maira ButtBlood-covered passengers described the terrifying ordeal after Flydubai Flight FZ1073 dramatically descended nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds, veering off course on Wednesday morning, FlightRadar data shows.
“We’re here during the hijacking of an airplane,” said one passenger with blood running down his face, in a video posted to social media and translated by The Times of Israel. “At this point we’ve subdued the terrorists, we’re approaching landing. Whoever is hearing me, we need help.”
FlyDubai says on-duty crew 'diverted and landed' the plane safely but motive still unclear
15:21 , Maira ButtIn a statement to The Independent, FlyDubai said that crew on board the flight helped to secure the plane and to divert and land it safely.
“The aircraft was successfully secured by on-duty flydubai crew travelling on the flight, who diverted and landed the aircraft safely at Tabuk Airport (TUU),” read the statement.
“All passengers and crew are safe and accounted for.We have deployed two replacement aircraft to Tabuk to relieve the passengers and crew.
“At this early stage, the underlying reasons and motives behind this event are unknown and remain subject to a formal investigation. We urge all parties to refrain from premature speculation while authorities gather the facts.
“Our immediate priority is to ensure the ongoing safety, health, and wellbeing of all passengers and crew members involved in this incident and support the official investigation.”
Netanyahu statement as pilot arrested
15:15 , Maira ButtIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a statement following a suspected hijacking incident this morning.
“During the flight, as they were approaching Israel, one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot and, apparently, tried to crash the plane with its passengers on board,” he said.
“I spoke with one of the Israeli passengers. He told me that the plane went into a spin and began to descend. He told me that, somehow, he managed to break into the cockpit with one of the crew members and, together, they overpowered the pilot who had carried out the stabbing while he was attempting to sabotage the aircraft's systems.
“Another air crew who was on the plane entered the cockpit and managed to stabilise the aircraft.
“I salute these heroes who demonstrated extraordinary resourcefulness and courage. They saved many lives and prevented a major disaster.
“The plane landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. All the passengers are now out of danger.
“The pilot who carried out the stabbing was arrested and is currently being questioned by the Saudi authorities.”
In pictures: Passengers covered in blood after fighting off pilot who attacked co-pilot
15:10 , Maira ButtWatch: Israel-bound flight diverted to Saudi Arabia after midair fight between the pilots
15:00 , Maira ButtIsraeli defence minister Katz says incident was 'jihadist terror attack'
14:52 , Maira ButtDefence minister Israel Katz says that a reported hijacking incident this morning was an intentional “jihadist terror attack”.
He said, citing preliminary information, that the attacker intended to crash the plane killing everyone on board.
Pilot in 'hijacking' incident arrested, says Netanyahu
14:40 , Maira ButtA pilot who attacked his co-pilot on a FlyDubai flight this morning has been arrested and is being interrogated by Saudi authorities, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu saiid on Wednesday.
The flight was bound for Tel Aviv and was diverted to Saudi Arabia.
Netanyahu says he has spoken with passenger on board flight
14:37 , Maira ButtIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has spoken with a passenger on board the FlyDubai flight that was involved in a reported “hijacking” incident this morning.
“I have spoken with one of the passengers on board the flight,” he said. “A second crew on board stabilised the plane.”
The latest: Israeli officials fear attempted 'terror attack' in the sky
14:24 , James ReynoldsThree Israeli officials said on Wednesday the co-pilot of the flydubai flight FZ1073 is believed to have stabbed the captain in a possible attempted ‘terror attack’.
They said the cabin crew entered the cockpit and took control the plane, which diverted to Saudi Arabia as it flew over Jordanian airspace.
One of the officials identified the attacker as an Omani national.
But around the time the plane landed, Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for the Israeli prime minister's office, said the incident was not believed to have been a hijacking, describing it as a “different incident”.
He did not immediately respond to a further request for comment on whether Israel was treating it as a “terror incident”.
The Israeli officials said, however, that Israel's current assessment is that the incident was an attempted “terror attack” and not related to any kind of mental health issue with either of the pilots.
Netanyahu clears schedule following plane incident
14:05 , Alex CroftIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cleared his schedule for the rest of the day to manage the crisis, an Israeli official said.
Neyanyahu has held security consultations on the incident, they added.
It comes after he met with UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during a a rare visit to the Gulf country on Sunday.
Israel and the UAE have forged close security, military and economic ties since establishing diplomatic ties in 2020.
'There were stabbings and a lot of blood', says passenger
13:45 , Alex CroftWe can now bring you more testimonies coming from passengers on the plane and their families.
Yasmin Abu Kasis, whose daughter Miriam was on the flight, said that her daughter had told her that she had heard screaming and that a man took a knife, put the pilot on the floor, and that there was blood everywhere.
Pictures shared on social media showed passengers with clothes covered in blood.
Ms Kasis said the pilot was calling for help as the plane started to lose control. “The plane start to lose control. So all the people, they scream, they think they are going,” she told the Associated Press.
Meital, a passenger whose husband was involved in the onboard brawl, told Channel 12: “Someone shouted ‘stabbing’ and my husband immediately understood what was happening and rushed to the front of the plane, and along with other Israelis they neutralized the terrorist.
“There were stabbings and a lot of blood. We’re very emotional and under terrible stress, it’s very difficult for me to talk,” she adds.
'Whoever can hear me, we need help': Terrified passengers call for assistance
13:24 , Alex CroftMore footage is emerging online from the scene of the plane incident earlier today.
One passenger with blood on his face posted a video on social media after appearing to have been involved in the onboard brawl.
“We’re here during the hijacking of an airplane,” said the with blood on his face, in a video published on social media by Channel 13.
“At this point we’ve subdued the terrorists, we’re approaching landing. Whoever is hearing me, we need help,” he added, according to a translation by The Times of Israel.
“We’re landing in Tabuk, apparently in Saudi Arabia. An unknown, unfamiliar area. On the plane, everybody is safe and sound, other than the pilot. We need help.”
תיעוד מהמטוס שנחת בסעודיה: "השתלטנו על המחבלים. כל מי ששומע אותי - אנחנו צריכים עזרה"https://t.co/qp31UziuJB@NoganNir pic.twitter.com/Od4nR7c4Vq
— חדשות 13 (@newsisrael13) September 30, 2026
Ben Gvir says 'attack' shows Israel must intensify military action in the region
13:05 , Maira ButtFar-right national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir has said that the hijacking of a FlyDubai plane on Wednesday demonstrates the need for Israel to justify its military campaign in the region.
“Thank you to the Creator of the Universe and to the heroic passengers, but Israel's security doctrine must go up a level!” he wrote in a post on X.
“Israel has done a wonderful job in the last two and a half years, but we must not stop and must continue until achieving total victory in Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, and Judea and Samaria.
“The naive notion that our enemies value life and that we should have mercy on them received another reminder this morning in the form of a terrorist who planned to crash a plane and murder the 180 Israelis on board.
“Terrorism is a devil with which no agreement should ever be reached except for its defeat and erasure from the face of the earth.”
Passengers being treated 'well' in Saudi Arabia
12:55 , Maira ButtPassengers who have landed in Saudi Arabia after a plane was diverted away from Tel Aviv, say they are being treated well.
“They’re performing in the best way,” Almog Italie told Channel 12 news. “They’re taking care of us. At the moment, we’re relying on them.”
“In Saudi Arabia we trust!” he added.
All passengers safe and accounted for, says airline
12:45 , Maira ButtAn airline spokesperson said the FlyDubai flight experienced an "incident" en route to Tel Aviv and diverted to Tabuk, where it landed safely. All passengers were safe and accounted for, the spokesperson said, without providing any further details.
Lapid says Netanyahu warned of attacks ahead of elections but nothing 'remotely resembling' hijacking
12:35 , Maira ButtIsraeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has said that nothing to indicate the alleged hijacking of a FlyDubai plane was mentioned at a security briefing last night.
“Nothing even remotely resembling this morning’s plane incident came up in the security briefing with the prime minister last night. Nothing similar, nothing reminiscent of it, not even a hint,” he said.
“The whole spin that the mouthpieces are pushing now only proves what was already clear yesterday — that once again they are trying to play cheap politics at the expense of Israel’s security. An irresponsible bunch.”
Images show broken rudder of FlyDubai plane
12:25 , Maira ButtIsraeli government believes incident was 'terror attack', say sources
12:18 , Maira ButtThe Israeli government believes the incident on board a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was an attempted “terror attack”, two Israeli officials told Reuters.
They said that the co-pilot is believed to have stabbed the captain before cabin crew entered the cockpit and took control.
An Israeli official had earlier told Reuters that the plan transmitted emergency signals after a physical altercation between two pilots.
Watch: Israel-bound flight diverted to Saudi Arabia after midair fight between the pilots
12:10 , Maira ButtNetanyahu office says situation is 'under control'
11:58 , Maira ButtIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was briefed over the incident, which his office said in a statement was "under control," adding that all efforts were being made to bring the Israeli passengers back to Israel.
In pictures: Passengers seen covered in blood
11:47 , Maira ButtBREAKING: Second flight diverted from Tel Aviv destination
11:46 , Maira ButtA second FlyDubai flight FZ1081 from Dubai to Tel Aviv has diverted and is now heading back to Dubai, according to FlightRadar24.
'We've subdued the terrorists' says passenger in message from plane
11:43 , Maira ButtA video shared by Israel’s Channel 13 shows a man with blood running down his face saying: “We’re here during the hijacking of an airplane. At this point we’ve subdued the terrorists, we’re approaching landing. Whoever is hearing me, we need help.
“We’re landing in Tabuk, apparently in Saudi Arabia. An unknown, unfamiliar area. On the plane, everybody is safe and sound, other than the pilot. We need help.”
Mapped: Journey of flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv
11:32 , Maira Butt
Passenger says pilot 'tried to crash' the plane
11:30 , Maira ButtA passenger has described how her husband helped “neutralise the terrorist” on board the flight.
The woman, named Meital, told Channel 12 that a member of the flight crew “tried to crash the plane” before being subdued by passengers.
“Someone shouted ‘stabbing’ and my husband immediately understood what was happening and rushed to the front of the plane, and along with other Israelis they neutralised the terrorist,” she said.
'Blood everywhere': Witnesses on board describe horror of incident
11:26 , Maira ButtYasmin Abu Kasis, whose daughter Miriam was on the flight, said that her daughter had told her that she had heard screaming and that a man took a knife, put the pilot on the floor, and that there was blood everywhere. Pictures shared on social media showed passengers with clothes covered in blood.
An Israeli official said a “major disaster was narrowly avoided”, according to the outlet, which reported that the Israeli security agencies including the IDF, Mossad and Shin Bet believe the incident may have been intended as an act of terror.
Pilot ‘stabbed co-pilot in attempted hijacking’ on Israel-bound plane
11:20 , Maira ButtA pilot on a flight from Dubai to Israel allegedly stabbed his co-pilot in an attempted hijacking in midair, according to reports.
Israeli fighter jets were scrambled after Flydubai Flight FZ1073 dramatically dropped around 13,000 feet in 30 seconds as it veered off course on Wednesday morning, FlightRadar data shows.
A witness told the Jerusalem Post that one pilot stabbed the other before passengers near the front of the plane forced the attacker out of the cockpit.
Two other pilots who were onboard at the back of the plane helped land the flight.
