The co-pilot who allegedly tried to hijack a flight to Israel on Wednesday attacked his fellow pilot with an axe, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed as questions loomed over the motives and background of the assailant.
“As [the plane] approached Israel, one of the co-pilots stabbed or hit with an axe the other pilot, an Indian pilot,” the Israeli premier told CBS News on Wednesday, hours after the attack.
“The pilot that was hit, bleeding profusely, fighting for his life, managed to unlock the pilot's door,” he said, hailing captain Smit Machchhar, who was seriously injured in the attack, as a hero.
It remains unclear how the pilot gained access to a weapon and some analysts have suggested it may have been the emergency axe kept in the cockpit in case of emergency.
Passenger Daniel Schlichter told Fox News on Thursday that the cabin was alerted to the attack by a woman and her daughter who happened to see what was going on while heading to the lavatory on board.
“There was a woman with a daughter going to the toilet, and a few seconds after that, she pulled her daughter back to the passenger area, screaming, 'He stabbed the pilot!” he told the US outlet.
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Key Points
- Attacker was suicidal and shouting 'kill me' after being subdued, says Netanyahu
- UAE investigating whether flydubai incident was terror-related
- Netanyahu: Co-pilot had undergone a radical indoctrination
- Trump says Flydubai jet incident was 'perhaps a terrorist or a whack job'
- FlyDubai flights to and from Israel are suspended
Netanyahu says pilot used axe in cockpit attack
16:45 , James ReynoldsIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said pilot Smit Machchhar had apparently been stabbed or hit with an axe by the other pilot and had bled profusely.
“As they approached Israel, one of the co-pilots stabbed or hit with an axe the other pilot, an Indian pilot, and the pilot that was hit – bleeding profusely, fighting for his life – managed to unlock the pilot’s door,” he told CBS News.
It remains unclear how the co-pilot attacked, or where the axe came from. Some analysts suggested the attacker may have used the crash axe kept in the cockpit.
Mother and daughter alerted cabin to stabbing in cockpit, passenger says
16:26 , James ReynoldsA mother and daughter heading to the lavatory on board the Flydubai flight 1073 alerted the cabin to the altercation in the cockpit, a passenger has claimed.
“There was a woman with a daughter going to the toilet, and a few seconds after that, she pulled her daughter back to the passenger area, screaming, 'He stabbed the pilot!” recounted Daniel Schlichter to Fox News on Thursday.
“A few seconds after that, I heard a very violent fight coming from the cockpit area. The door was a little bit open, which is standardly not a sound that you hear from the cockpit. I immediately understood that there was a situation going on inside.”
Co-pilot of flydubai plane underwent radical Islamist indoctrination, claims Netanyahu
16:18 , James ReynoldsThe co-pilot of a passenger jet who stabbed the captain in an apparent attempt to crash the plane as it flew to Israel had undergone radical Islamist indoctrination and was clearly suicidal, Israel's prime minister said Thursday.
Disaster was averted on Wednesday's flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv after the wounded captain managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers to subdue the attacker.
A reserve crew that had been aboard landed the plane, which had more than 170 people on board, at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia.
"We know that he underwent Islamist radical indoctrination. That appears to be something we are gathering from his personal information," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News.
Two Israeli security officials said Israel's initial assessment was that the co-pilot, identified by Israel as an Omani national, was likely acting alone, though the investigation was still ongoing.
Watch: Trump calls Israeli co-pilot hijacker 'a terrorist or a whack job' after stabbing pilot
15:28 , Alex CroftSaudi not providing Israeli authorities all the information it needs, says official
15:01 , Alex CroftThe Saudi Arabian authorities are not providing Israel with all the information that it has requested, an Israeli official has told Reuters news agency.
The source said that Israeli intelligence services, Mossad and Shin Bet, were investigating the incident as well.
Meanwhile, Israel's envoy to the UAE, Yossi Shelley, told the agency that it was too early to draw conclusions and no motive had been determined.
'Make sure an Israeli is sitting next to you', says Netanyahu of astonishing hijacker takedown
14:40 , James ReynoldsIsraeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News the attacker was “suicidal” and likely wanted to bring down the plane.
He claims the attacker told the crew “kill me, kill me” after he was subdued by passengers.
“It’s clear he was suicidal. That’s not a question. It was clear he was gonna down that plane ... it looks very likely that he was gonna down the plane.”
“We faced a disaster of unbelievable proportions,” Netanyahu added, before joking: “Make sure an Israeli is sitting next to you.”
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar in stable condition after foiling Flydubai hijack attempt
14:29 , Alex CroftCaptain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who was stabbed while foiling an alleged attempt by his co-pilot to crash a Flydubai flight, is in stable condition and receiving treatment at a hospital in Saudi Arabia, officials said on Thursday.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh said in a social media post that Mr Machchhar was "admitted in a hospital in Tabuk city in northwest Saudi Arabia and receiving necessary medical attention".
While a full update on his health was awaited, the mission said he was "reported to be in stable condition" and that it was in touch with his family.
"We hope that he recovers from his injuries at the earliest. We are in touch with his family and assure them that we will continue to follow up on his health with Saudi authorities and extend all possible assistance for his well-being," it said.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi spoke by phone with Mr Machchhar's wife and parents on Thursday.
Stuti Mishra reports:
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar in stable condition after foiling Flydubai hijack attempt
Emirates suspending codeshare flights to Tel Aviv with flydubai
14:13 , Alex CroftEmirates airline has suspended all codeshare flights with flydubai travelling to and from Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv.
Anyone who booked flights to Israel through Emirates - requiring a stopover in Dubai and transfer to a flydubai jet - will no longer be permitted to board the Emirates plane for the first leg of the journey, the Times of Israel reports.
The measure appears to be intended to prevent passengers from becoming stranded in Dubai, the outlet said.
“Passengers whose final destination is Tel Aviv will not be accepted for travel at the point of origin,” the airline said in a statement.
“Customers already en route to Tel Aviv will be accommodated and provided with all possible support to complete their journeys.”
Israel believes arrested co-pilot was acting alone - Reuters
13:51 , Alex CroftIsraeli officials believe the co-pilot, who was arrested by Saudi authorities, was acting alone when he attempted to crash the flydubai plane on Wednesday.
It comes after Israel's envoy to the UAE, Yossi Shelley, said the suspect was an Omani national.
Attacker was suicidal and shouting 'kill me' after being subdued, says Netanyahu
13:32 , Alex CroftThe attacker behind the attempt to hijack a flydubai flight was suicidal and appeared to have been attempting to down the plane, Benjamin Netanyahu said.
The attacker was shouting “kill me, kill me” after he was subdued and tied up using phone cables, the Israeli president added.
“It’s clear he was suicidal, that’s not a question,” he added.
Netanyahu also said the co-pilot had undergone a radical Islamist indoctrination.
Israel will be able to say within a matter of days whether the co-pilot had connections to Iran, he said.
NEW: Israeli Prime Minister @netanyahu reveals the attacker behind yesterday's attempted flight hijacking was "suicidal" and likely intended to bring down the plane.
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 1, 2026
Netanyahu says after the attacker was subdued, he called out to the crew, "kill me, kill me!"
Investigators are… pic.twitter.com/AZN3ihsAJ2
Netanyahu: Co-pilot had undergone a radical Islamist indoctrination
13:21 , Alex CroftWe’ve just heard more from Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was speaking to Fox News’ Fox and Friends programme on Thursday morning US time.
He said the co-pilot of the flydubai flight had undergone a radical indoctrination.
"We know that he underwent Islamist radical indoctrination," Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News.
Trump calls co-pilot who tried to hijack Israel flight ‘a terrorist or a whack job’
13:00 , Alex CroftPresident Donald Trump has said a co-pilot who stabbed his colleague during a flight to Israel was “a terrorist or a whack-job.”
The commander-in-chief made the remarks Wednesday, after the attempted hijacking of a Flydubai flight headed to Tel Aviv. The co-pilot, who was arrested when the plane landed, was subdued by passengers who described what happened during the terrifying ordeal as the bloody scene unfolded.
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump told reporters he had spoken about the incident with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
“I did speak to Bibi Netanyahu at length about this event, and it seems as though the co-pilot was perhaps a terrorist or perhaps a whack-job, and he stabbed the pilot,” Trump remarked.
The president was also asked whether he knew if the co-pilot had wanted to crash the jet.
‘The plane felt like a rollercoaster as it nosedived’
12:31 , Alex CroftWe’ve just heard from another one of the passengers on the flydubai plane, Almog Italy, who revealed his dramatic experience to Sky News.
He said the plane felt like a “rollercoaster” as it initially dropped by around 13,000 feet in just 30 seconds.
"In the beginning, we didn't understand what was going on because we saw people rushing and also the crew members rushing to the front of the plane," he told the broadcaster.
"After three, four minutes, we understood that there was a kind of attack."
He said word soon spread about a stabbing in the cockpit, with the plane’s passengers “afraid” but remaining calm.
Saudi Arabia refused Israeli requests to send planes to pick up passengers
12:05 , Alex CroftSaudi Arabia turned down requests by Israel to send its own planes to pick up stranded passengers on Wednesday, a source has told AFP news agency.
Israeli passengers on the diverted flydubai flight were stranded in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
BREAKING Saudi Arabia turned down multiple requests by Israel to send its own planes to retrieve passengers from a diverted flydubai flight, a Saudi source with knowledge of the matter told AFP Thursday pic.twitter.com/Runo2ZAkVL
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) October 1, 2026
FlyDubai: The airline that made an emergency landing after a captain was stabbed
11:21 , Alex CroftA copilot on a flight to Israel stabbed a captain on Wednesday before passengers pushed their way into the cockpit and wrestled with the attacker.
The FlyDubai plane fell rapidly, with a passenger saying he grabbed the controls and pulled upward, similar to how he had seen on television.
Other crew members soon took over, and the jetliner made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
It was not clear what motivated the attack. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Saudi Arabia had arrested the copilot.
The passengers from the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv were greeted with cheers in Israel as they completed the journey on another flight Wednesday evening.
Here we take a look at the airline in which the altercation took place.
FlyDubai: The airline that made an emergency landing after a captain was stabbed
New images emerge from inside the flydubai plane
11:04 , Alex Croft
Four Americans were aboard Israel-bound plane: reports
10:51 , Alex CroftFour Americans were aboard the Israel-bound plane that a pilot allegedly attempted to hijack Wednesday, according to reports.
The four passengers on the Flydubai flight were US-Israeli dual citizens, US officials told CNN and NewsNation.
US ambassador to Israel celebrates 'hero' pilot who fought off attempted hijacker
09:55 , Alex CroftMike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, has celebrated the Indian pilot who fought off an attempted hijacker on a FlyDuabi flight Wednesday as a “hero”.
Captain Smit Machchhar “is a hero & being celebrated all over Israel tonight,” Huckabee wrote on X.
Amen @AmirOhana as the Indian pilot is a hero & being celebrated all over Israel tonight. https://t.co/rs2oN96Uv3
— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) September 30, 2026
Full report: Captain Smit Machchhar: Modi and Trump hail ‘hero’ Indian pilot who opened cockpit door after being stabbed
09:29 , Alex CroftUS president Donald Trump and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi hailed the “hero” pilot who saved passengers from an attempted hijacking.
Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, fought off his co-pilot who stabbed him during an attempted midair attack on a flight to Israel.
Trump said he spoke to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the incident. He hailed Cpt Machchhar as a "hero" for fighting off the knife attack from the co-pilot, opening the cockpit door, and calling for help to foil a bid to crash the aircraft.
"I did speak to Bibi Netanyahu at length about this event, and it seems as though the co-pilot was perhaps a terrorist or perhaps a whack-job, and he stabbed the pilot," he told reporters in the Oval Office.
“The pilot was in very bad shape; I guess he still is in very bad shape," Trump said.
Suha Kidwai and Stuti Mishra report:
Modi and Trump hail ‘hero’ Indian pilot who opened cockpit door after being stabbed
Watch: Passengers film moments after suspected hijacking on Israel-bound flight
09:05 , Alex CroftUAE orders investigation into flydubai incident
08:41 , Alex CroftThe UAE prosecutor general has ordered an investigation into the flydubai incident, the state news agency reported on Thursday.
The investigation will examine the circumstances and motives, including whether it was linked to any militant activity or involved prior planning or direction.
UAE judicial authorities have jurisdiction over the incident because the aircraft is registered in the UAE and flies under its flag, the statement said.
It added that UAE law applies to crimes committed on board "even if they occur outside the country's territory".
Israeli president says he will nominate four Israelis on Flydubai plane for heroism award
08:15 , Shweta SharmaIsraeli president Isaac Herzog has said he will recommend four Israelis aboard Wednesday’s Flydubai flight FZ1073 for the country’s Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism.
The four include Yaniv Hayoun, Tzvika Manes and Asaf Rajuan, who entered the cockpit and subdued the co-pilot after he stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar.
Dr Shota Musayev is also being recommended for providing lifesaving medical treatment to the seriously injured pilot.
Hayoun, Manes and Rajuan “rushed to assist, entered the cockpit, and overpowered the attacker, placing their own lives in real danger, while Hayoun steadied the aircraft’s controls,” Herzog said.
“Once the attacker had been subdued, Dr. Musayev provided lifesaving medical treatment to the seriously wounded pilot, helping to stabilize his condition until the aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.”
“The swift action of the passengers and crew averted a major disaster,” Herzog added.
The president said he had spoken to the four men and “expressed his deep appreciation for the resourcefulness, courage, and mutual responsibility they displayed in moments of extreme danger.”
Herzog also praised Manes’s wife, Tali, who first raised the alarm over a disturbance in the cockpit, and thanked Machchhar, “whose determination and actions made it possible to subdue the attacker and saved many lives.”
The Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism, Israel’s highest civilian award for heroism, was established by Herzog following the Hamas-led 7 October 2023 attack.
Indian pilot received training in New Zealand
07:50 , Shweta SharmaCaptain Smit Machchhar trained as a pilot at Mainland Air in the New Zealand city of Dunedin for 18 months, beginning in 2008, the school's CEO, Philip Kean, told 1News.
Kean said Machchhar "did very well" as a student and later returned to India where he worked as a recruiter for the school.
"We're all very proud of him here and wish him a speedy recovery," he said.
SpiceJet, in a post on X, praised Machchhar's "heroic courage" and "selfless actions."
"You are a hero to us all, Captain," the airline wrote.
After he was injured in the cockpit, Machchhar was taken to a hospital and was in stable condition, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, said late Wednesday.
Embassy officials were in contact with his family and Saudi authorities.
Pictures show Israeli passengers arriving after botched crash attempt
07:30 , Shweta Sharma
Netanyahu says it's too early to say if Iran was involved
06:50 , Shweta SharmaBenjamin Netanyahu has said that he does not know the “exact background” of the Flydubai copilot who attacked the captain in an apparent attempt to crash the plane, “but he obviously hated Israelis.”
In an interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News, he was asked if there is any current indication of Iranian involvement in the attack.
“It’s too early to say,” he said.
“That is fanaticism and hatred of an incalculable level,” he added.
“The attacking pilot is now being investigated in Saudi Arabia. I think he’ll be taken to the Emirates where he comes from – or at least where he flew off from,” he said.
“We’ll be following and also possibly participating in this investigation.”
Captain Smit Machchhar: Modi and Trump hail ‘hero’ Indian pilot who opened cockpit door after being stabbed
06:30 , Shweta SharmaUS president Donald Trump and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi hailed the “hero” pilot who saved passengers from an attempted hijacking.
Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, fought off his co-pilot who stabbed him during an attempted midair attack on a flight to Israel.
Mr Trump said he spoke to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the incident. He hailed Captain Machchhar as a "hero" for fighting off the knife attack from the co-pilot, opening the cockpit door, and calling for help to foil a bid to crash the aircraft.
Modi and Trump hail ‘hero’ Indian pilot who opened cockpit door after being stabbed
Who is Indian pilot Smit Machchhar?
06:05 , Shweta SharmaAn Indian pilot who was repeatedly stabbed by his co-pilot during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has been hailed as a hero for helping prevent a potentially catastrophic crash involving more than 170 passengers.
Captain Smit Machchhar, who emphasises a “strong focus on safety” on his professional profile, was seriously injured after officials said his co-pilot attacked him with the apparent intention of crashing the aircraft.
Despite his injuries, Machchhar fought back and managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to overpower the alleged attacker.
Machchhar’s family lives in Ghatkopar East, Mumbai, and his parents were flown to Saudi Arabia early on Thursday, local legislator Parag Shah said.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Machchhar has 13 years of experience in commercial aviation. He previously worked for SpiceJet as a senior commander and line training captain before joining Flydubai in 2022.
Machchhar had initially planned to join his family’s textile business and was studying for a management degree with the aim of helping expand it when he stumbled upon an aviation seminar.
“That is where the aviation bug bit me,” he said on a podcast last year.
Netanyahu says Indian pilot 'hit with an axe' during attack
06:00 , Shweta SharmaBenjamin Netanyahu has said that a “tremendous act of heroism” prevented a repeat of a 9/11-style crash of the Flydubai plane.
Recounting his detailed conversations with the passengers on the plane, Netanyahu told CBS that the plane was heading from Dubai to Israel.
“As they approached Israel, one of the co-pilots stabbed or hit with an axe the other pilot, an Indian pilot.
“And the pilot that was hit, bleeding profusely, fighting for his life, managed to unlock the pilot's door,” he said.
An Israeli passenger sitting in row 18 reportedly heard screaming and rushed towards the cockpit. He was initially thrown aside as the plane plunged, but managed to force his way through the cockpit door.
He said he went through the door and saw the pilot who attacked the other co-pilot was trying to jam the equipment.
“Obviously, it looks like he wanted to obviously bring the whole plane down.
“[He] grabbed him from behind, pulled him back, then unbelievably took the stick, pulled it back. This is not a pilot. This is a plumber.”
The pilot has been identified as captain Smit Machchhar a Mumbai native who lived in Dubai, according to reports.
Indian pilot, others prevented another 9/11: Israel PM
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) October 1, 2026
Israel PM Netanyahu says the Indian pilot was "attacked" by co pilot with an "axe", explaining that Smit "managed to unlock the door".
vdo ctsy: CBS News pic.twitter.com/5m6tCyzIYJ
'We simply said goodbye', woman reveals moments with family during foiled flight attack
05:30 , Shweta SharmaHila Gaier, who was on board the Flydubai flight with her daughters and partner, described the tense moments when they all bid goodbye to each other as the hijacking attempt unfolded.
She said her daughters were scared as “complete chaos” broke out during the flight and the plane plunged.
She told Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11 Radio that her daughter was about to go to the restroom when the plane hit what she thought was “insane turbulence.”
“My daughters were hugging me, and we simply said goodbye to each other,” she said.
“I told them, ‘My beloved girls, I love you.’ My partner looked at me and said, ‘I love you.’ We were simply staring death in the face.”
Overhead bins opened, the power went out, and the communications system and screens all went down, Gaier said.
“You have no idea what’s happening, and it just keeps going and going,” she said.
“It’s been a complete nightmare.”She said the plane, carrying families with children, was filled with “terrifying screams”.
All we know about ‘hijacking’ attempt on flight to Israel as suspect arrested
05:03 , James C. ReynoldsA 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.
The incident has heightened security fears in Israel weeks before Israelis vote in the first election since the Hamas-led October 7 attack, with security a defining issue.
Read on...
All we know about ‘hijacking’ attempt on board flight to Israel as suspect detained
Trump says Flydubai jet incident was 'perhaps a terrorist or a whack job'
04:42 , Shweta SharmaDonald Trump has suggested the co-pilot involved in an incident aboard a Flydubai passenger aircraft may have been a “terrorist” or was acting irrationally, as he recounted an extraordinary version of events relayed to him by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The US president told reporters on Wednesday that he had spoken to Netanyahu about the incident, which reportedly involved a confrontation between the pilots of a flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
“I think it’s an incredible story,” Trump said.
He claimed it appeared the “co-pilot was perhaps a terrorist, or perhaps a whack-job, and he stabbed the pilot”.
Trump then recounted an account he said he received from Netanyahu involving an Israeli plumber who had no experience flying an aircraft but intervened after hearing screams and realising something was wrong in the cockpit.
“Having never flown a plane, he took the stick, lifted it up, and levelled out the plane before it crashed,” Trump said.
The president acknowledged that he could not independently confirm the account.“Now this is the story that I heard. I don’t know if it’s true, but that’s the story that I got from Bibi,” he said.
Trump said Netanyahu told him the passenger knew what to do because he regularly watched the television programme Air Disasters.
“When asked why he did that, he said, ‘He watches that show Air Disasters,’” Trump said, adding that the passenger had apparently learned “sort of how to fly” from the programme.
Reports said the confrontation triggered a hijacking code before the aircraft eventually landed in Saudi Arabia.
Israeli officials say incident could be treated as 'terrorist attack' and not mental health issue
04:30 , Shweta SharmaThe co-pilot of a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv is believed to have stabbed the captain in a possible attempted "terror attack" on Wednesday, forcing the plane to divert to Saudi Arabia where it landed safely, three Israeli officials said.
They said the cabin crew entered the cockpit and took control of flydubai flight FZ1073 from the United Arab Emirates to Israel, which diverted to Saudi Arabia as it flew over Jordanian airspace. One of the officials identified the attacker as an Omani national.
An Israeli official had earlier told Reuters the plane transmitted emergency signals after the pilots got into a physical altercation with each other.
Around the time the plane landed in Saudi Arabia, Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for the Israeli prime minister's office, told Reuters the incident was not believed to have been a hijacking, describing it as a "different incident".
The Israeli officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to brief reporters, said 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.
Watch: Passengers film moments after suspected hijacking on Israel-bound flight
04:03 , Maryam Zakir-HussainModi hails Indian pilot who helped avert attempted hijacking
03:57 , Shweta SharmaIndian prime minister Narendra Modi has become the latest to praise the flight captain Smit Machchhar for his bravery during the FlyDubai flight.
“Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO. In the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, he showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others,” Modi said.
“His valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy. India is proud of Captain Machchhar. Praying for his speedy recovery, renewed strength and good health.”
Machchhar is believed to have been seriously injured after he was attacked by the other pilot, but the captain succeeded in opening the cockpit door so that passengers could get inside and prevent a disaster.
The plane eventually made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 1, 2026
In the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, he showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others.
His valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy.
India is proud of…
US ambassador to Israel celebrates 'hero' pilot who fought off attempted hijacker
02:58 , Rachel DobkinMike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, has celebrated the Indian pilot who fought off an attempted hijacker on a FlyDuabi flight Wednesday as a “hero”.
Captain Smit Machchhar “is a hero & being celebrated all over Israel tonight,” Huckabee wrote on X.
Four Americans were aboard Israel-bound plane: reports
02:11 , Rachel DobkinFour Americans were aboard the Israel-bound plane that a pilot allegedly attempted to hijack Wednesday, according to reports.
The four passengers on the Flydubai flight were US-Israeli dual citizens, US officials told CNN and NewsNation.
FlyDubai flights to and from Israel are suspended
02:10 , Rachel DobkinFlyDubai Airlines has suspended all its flights to and from Israel after a pilot allegedly attempted to hijack one of its planes Wednesday.
What to know about the terrifying FlyDubai flight forced to land in Saudi Arabia
01:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainOne pilot stabs another as he attempts to take control of a flight from the United Arab Emirates to Israel with the aim of crashing it, according to Israel's prime minister.
Passengers, many of whom are Israelis, fear for their lives as the FlyDubai aircraft loses half its altitude in about a minute.
As Israel scrambles fighter jets out of concern for a possible hijacking, a passenger and crew member break into the cockpit to subdue the attacker and other crew members gain control of the aircraft, which lands safely in Saudi Arabia.
What to know about the terrifying FlyDubai flight forced to land in Saudi Arabia
Netanyahu names ‘true hero’ Indian pilot who opened cockpit door after being stabbed on flight to Israel
Thursday 1 October 2026 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
Wednesday 30 September 2026 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
Wednesday 30 September 2026 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
Wednesday 30 September 2026 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
Wednesday 30 September 2026 21:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainWatch: Netanyahu hails passengers who foiled cockpit attack on Flydubai flight
Wednesday 30 September 2026 20:45 , Maryam Zakir-HussainNetanyahu names pilot stabbed on flight
Wednesday 30 September 2026 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
Wednesday 30 September 2026 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
Wednesday 30 September 2026 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
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) September 30, 2026
Netanyahu embraces passenger who 'burst into cockpit' on flight
Wednesday 30 September 2026 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
