A copilot on a FlyDubai flight bound for Israel was arrested Wednesday after authorities say he stabbed the aircraft’s captain and attempted to crash the plane. The Boeing 737 Max 8, carrying 174 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv, experienced a rapid descent before passengers and crew members intervened to subdue the attacker. The flight was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely; aviation experts noted the rudder was torn from the tail during the descent.
The event began approximately two and a half hours after takeoff when a distress call was recorded at 8:44 a.m. local time. According to flight data, the aircraft plummeted from 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in approximately one minute. Capt. Smit Machchhar, an Indian national from Mumbai, was praised by government officials for opening the cockpit door despite his injuries, allowing a crew member and a passenger to enter and restrain the copilot.
The suspect, identified as an Omani national, is currently in Saudi custody. While the copilot's name has not been released, video footage reportedly shows him restrained with his hands tied. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the suspect had undergone "Islamist indoctrination," though his office declined to provide evidence for the claim when asked by reporters. Capt. Machchhar was reported to be in stable condition at a hospital in Saudi Arabia as of Wednesday night.
The flight descended nearly 50% of its altitude in 60 seconds. A person who heard flight communications described the aircraft being turned away by air traffic controllers in Jordan and Saudi Arabia before eventually being allowed to land in Tabuk. The suspect was a licensed pilot with authorized cockpit access.
An international investigation is underway involving authorities from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Israel, the United States, and Oman. Emirati authorities have asserted legal jurisdiction because the aircraft is registered in the UAE. Israeli intelligence officials are in Saudi Arabia to assist with the investigation. A request by Israel to extradite the suspect has not yet been decided. The investigation is exploring all motives, including terrorism and mental health factors.