The co-pilot of a Flydubai flight traveling to Israel attacked the captain with a crash axe in an attempt to take control of the aircraft, according to the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general. The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which was carrying over 170 people, descended approximately 17,000 feet (5,200 meters) two and a half hours into its journey before passengers managed to subdue the attacker and regain control of the plane.
Captain Smit Machchhar, who was injured during the incident, stated that he was lying on the floor when he realized the plane was descending and felt compelled to act. He recounted, "I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside," which allowed passengers to enter the cockpit. Two reserve pilots subsequently landed the aircraft safely in Saudi Arabia.
A crash axe is typically kept in the cockpit for emergencies. The UAE attorney general indicated that investigations are ongoing to ascertain the full circumstances and motives behind the attack. The co-pilot, identified as an Omani national, reportedly shouted, "Kill me, kill me!" after being subdued, leading Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to suggest that the attacker may have been suicidal and had undergone Islamist radical indoctrination.
The UAE is investigating whether the incident is linked to any terrorist activities. Captain Machchhar, who suffered stab wounds, was initially treated at a nearby hospital before being airlifted to Abu Dhabi, where he is reported to be in stable condition. The Indian embassy in the UAE confirmed that he is recovering well.
Approximately two and a half hours after takeoff from Dubai International Airport, the plane experienced a sharp descent and signaled a "general emergency" code, squawk 7700, before switching to squawk 7500, indicating unlawful interference or hijacking. A passenger, Almog Itali, described the chaotic moment, stating that the airplane dropped rapidly for 20 to 30 seconds before stabilizing.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog noted that the alarm was raised by an Israeli woman, Tali Manes, who heard a disturbance from the cockpit. Her husband, Zvika, along with three other men, entered the cockpit after Captain Machchhar managed to open the door despite his injuries. One passenger, Yaniv Hayun, reported that the attacker was attempting to disable the plane's instruments. He described putting the attacker in a chokehold and pulling him out of the cockpit, with assistance from other passengers to restrain him. Zvika Manes mentioned that they tied the attacker up using zip ties and multimedia headphones. Netanyahu stated that the actions of the pilot, passengers, and second crew prevented a potential disaster similar to the September 11 attacks.