A flight from the United Arab Emirates to Israel was disrupted when a co-pilot attacked the captain, leading to a drastic drop in altitude. Passengers onboard the FlyDubai aircraft, mostly Israelis, were in distress as the plane rapidly descended. Fortunately, the wounded pilot managed to open the cockpit door, allowing others to intervene and regain control of the aircraft, which landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
The distress call was made 2½ hours after the flight departed from Dubai en route to Tel Aviv. Israeli officials disclosed that the co-pilot assaulted the pilot and attempted to crash the plane. The aircraft experienced a sudden descent from 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in approximately one minute before landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Following the incident, the passengers were evacuated from Tabuk to Israel on replacement aircraft. The heroic actions of Captain Smit Machchhar, who bravely confronted the attacker, were commended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
An investigation into the attack is underway by the United Arab Emirates government, while Israeli officials have identified the attacker as an Omani national. Security concerns have been raised regarding how the weapon was brought onto the plane undetected.
Captain Machchhar, who sustained injuries during the attack, is reported to be in stable condition. He has received praise from both Indian and Israeli authorities for his courage and quick thinking during the crisis.
FlyDubai, an airline with a global presence, has faced previous tragic incidents, including a fatal crash in Russia in 2016. The airline’s fleet consists primarily of Boeing 737 aircraft, with future plans to incorporate Airbus planes. U.S. President Donald Trump lauded Boeing for the resilience of its 737 Max aircraft during the incident.