FlyDubai Pilot Stabs Captain in Cockpit Attack Over Jordan

A routine FlyDubai service from the United Arab Emirates to Israel transformed into a mid-air nightmare when a cockpit altercation erupted into a violent stabbing and triggered an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The incident, which prompted international alarm and the scrambling of fighter jets, left the aircraft plunging thousands of feet while passengers fought desperately to subdue the attacker.

The flight departed Dubai carrying more than 150 people on its regular route toward Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv. Cruising at roughly 34,000 feet over Jordan, the flight deck descended into chaos when the first officer allegedly attacked the aircraft's captain, Smit Machchhar. According to the Israel Foreign Ministry, Capt. Machchhar sustained stab wounds but managed to unlock the cockpit door to enable passengers and crew to intervene.

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Israel-Bound Flydubai Jet Plunges as Passengers Rush Cockpit to Stop Attack: ‘Tried to Do 9/11’

Passengers inside the cabin described horrifying moments as the aircraft lost altitude rapidly. Mika Bauman told ABC News that the descent felt like unmitigated chaos accompanied by screaming. Another passenger, Miryam Shira Ohayon, told reporters via speakerphone that the co-pilot attempted to carry out a suicide attack, according to CBS News. Flight-tracking data cited by various networks indicated the Boeing 737 Max 8 plummeted more than 17,000 feet in less than two minutes, with some reports citing a drop from 34,000 to approximately 15,400 feet over a longer sequence before leveling out.

Heroic intervention inside the cabin prevented a potential catastrophe. Passenger Asaf Rajuan, along with other travelers, rushed to the front of the aircraft to subdue the attacker. Witnesses noted that two off-duty European pilots who were traveling as passengers stepped forward to assist the remaining flight crew in taking control of the aircraft, as reported by the New York Post. The aircraft ultimately diverted and landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a video broadcast that the co-pilot attempted to jam equipment between the pilot seats rather than stabilize the aircraft. An Israeli security official told CBS News that authorities investigated whether the event constituted a Sept. 11-style terror attack. Defense Minister Israel Katz labeled it an attempted jihadist terror attack, while an Omani official confirmed to CBS News that the suspect was born in Oman and holds Omani citizenship. Meanwhile, FlyDubai maintained a cautious stance, issuing a statement confirming that an altercation occurred in the flight deck and that the aircraft was successfully secured by on-duty crew traveling onboard.

The aviation emergency triggered a swift military response across the region. The Israeli Air Force noticed the flight deviating from its flight path and descending rapidly without responding to radio calls. Officials stated that fighter jets were scrambled as a precautionary measure, though they did not leave Israeli airspace once it became clear the aircraft was turning toward Saudi Arabia, where Saudi jets had also been scrambled. The incident also caused a stir in international media; Aol reported that Fox News issued an on-air apology after mistakenly airing archival footage from the Shanksville, Pennsylvania crash site of United Flight 93 during its morning broadcast covering the FlyDubai diversion.

Back on the ground, passengers were eventually repatriated to Israel on replacement flights, arriving to celebratory scenes at Ben Gurion Airport. Authorities in Saudi Arabia continue to hold the suspect in custody for formal interrogation, while international investigators work to uncover the precise motives behind the cockpit assault.