A copilot on a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv attacked the captain with a knife on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, forcing an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Witnesses and officials reported that the first officer, identified as an Omani citizen, stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, and attempted to crash the aircraft. Passengers and crew members eventually stormed the cockpit to subdue the attacker and stabilize the jetliner.
The incident occurred as the aircraft, carrying approximately 180 people including 166 Israelis, was at a cruising altitude of 34,000 feet. According to passenger accounts and flight data, the plane entered an extreme descent, losing roughly half its altitude in about one minute before leveling off at 15,000 feet near Jordan. The maneuver was so severe that aviation experts noted most of the rudder was torn from the aircraft's tail.
During the struggle, the captain used his remaining strength to release the cockpit door lock, allowing others to intervene. Dr. Shota Musaev, a dentist on board, reported finding the attacker on top of the pilot and provided medical aid for the captain's severe wounds. Several passengers and a crew member wrestled with the first officer, eventually restraining him with headphone cords. Two additional pilots who were on board, reported to be from South Africa and New Zealand, took over the controls and landed the plane in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Saudi authorities arrested the Omani copilot. While Saudi Arabia allowed the emergency landing, the government refused an Israeli request to send military transport planes to retrieve the passengers. FlyDubai instead dispatched two aircraft to transport the travelers to Tel Aviv later Wednesday evening. Captain Machchhar was reported to be in stable condition at a hospital in Tabuk.
In the immediate term, travelers will notice changes to boarding and pre-flight procedures. Prime Minister Netanyahu has ordered the implementation of tougher background checks and security screenings for all pilots flying into Israel, regardless of their airline's national origin. This policy change means flight crews will now be subject to individual security reviews by Israeli authorities before they are permitted to enter the country's airspace. These measures may lead to increased administrative requirements for international airlines and potential delays for passengers if staffing issues arise from the new vetting process.
The event sets a precedent for security cooperation between Israel and Saudi Arabia during civil aviation emergencies, despite their lack of official ties. It also prompts a renewed focus on "insider threats" within the aviation industry, as investigators from the Israeli security services and the United Arab Emirates examine whether the attacker acted alone or was directed by an organized group. What happens next includes the ongoing interrogation of the Omani copilot by Saudi authorities and the formal investigation by FlyDubai and Emirati aviation regulators to determine the cause of the security breach. No trial date or extradition request has yet been reported.