[REVISION HISTORY]
Flydubai hijacking attempt and cockpit attack
Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.
What changed
2026-10-01 01:12 UTC → 2026-10-01 18:08 UTC ·
added
removed
An attempted hijacking occurred on Flydubai flight FZ1073 during a journey from Dubai to Tel Aviv. An Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain, Smit Machhar, with a knife in the cockpit. During the struggle, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude before control was regained and the plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Captain Machhar sustained serious injuries to his head and hands but was reported to be in stable condition. A Georgian-Israeli dentist on board, Shota Musaev, provided medical assistance to stop the captain’s bleeding after passengers helped subdue the attacker. International leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump, praised the captain’s bravery. Netanyahu described Machhar as a ‘true hero,’ noting that his actions saved the lives of approximately 174 passengers. The Indian Embassy in the UAE has confirmed it is monitoring Machhar’s recovery in a Saudi Arabia. Arabian hospital and remains in contact with his family. Following the incident, passengers were able to continue their journey to Tel Aviv on a different Flydubai aircraft.
Versions
- 2026-10-01 18:08 UTC Flydubai hijacking attempt and cockpit attack
- 2026-10-01 01:12 UTC Flydubai hijacking attempt and cockpit attack
Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.