Plummeting 17,000 feet after an axe attack by its Omani co-pilot, an Israel-bound FlyDubai flight with 182 people on board survived an attempted terrorist act.
The Cockpit Assault And Emergency Descent Over Jordan
Flight FZ1073 left Dubai International Airport on Wednesday morning with 182 people on board, including eight crew members flying to Tel Aviv, Israel.
Roughly two and a half hours into the journey near the Jordanian border, the Boeing 737 experienced a violent disturbance inside the flight deck. As the co-pilot seized the aircraft’s flight controls and switched to code squawk 7500 indicating a hijacking, the jet plunged rapidly, losing over 17,000 feet in under two minutes and careening off course toward Saudi Arabia. Passengers reported a sudden, roller-coaster drop. The airplane started descending rapidly near the end of the journey, recalled Almog Italie, a passenger traveling with his family.
Captain Smit Machchhar Fights Off Attack
Despite sustaining severe stab wounds, flight captain Smit Machchhar fought back against his attacker. In a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from an Abu Dhabi hospital, the injured pilot described the struggle to regain control, noting he had been flying planes for 17 years and could tell what was happening even with his eyes closed. Machchhar, who has worked for FlyDubai for about four years and is married with two children, recounted that during those difficult moments he recited the Hanuman Chalisa, a Hindu devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Hanuman and traditionally recited as a prayer for strength and courage, telling Modi that Lord Hanuman gave me courage.
“I had so many wounds.”
Captain Smit Machchhar
Machchhar explained that he forced himself back up to prevent a catastrophe. I was fighting for my life. At one point, I realized that if I didn’t get up … then passengers would lose their lives
he told Modi. He managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to rush inside. Travelers including Yaniv Hayun and Dr. Shota Musayev intervened, while Ambassador Deepak Mittal stated he was “proud of Capt Smit for his bravery” and very reassured to meet him, while Machchhar remarked from the hospital that he was looking at his injury as a journey toward recovery.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the wounded pilot, calling him a true hero who enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker and prevent a midair disaster. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that India was proud of Machchhar and prayed for his quick recovery, while UAE Deputy Prime Minister Hamdan bin Mohammed visited Machchhar in the hospital.
Diversion To Saudi Arabia And Suspect’s Radicalization
With the cockpit secured, two reserve pilots safely diverted the aircraft to Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia at 06:58 local time, after initial refusals from Saudi and Jordanian authorities to clear the landing. The Saudi Interior Ministry subsequently transferred al-Hammami to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday. UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi announced Saturday that the co-pilot executed a planned terrorist attack. Investigators from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Israel are examining the motive, while U.S. President Donald Trump warned of severe consequences if Iranian links are established, noting that the United States will hit them very hard
if Iranian agents were behind the attack.
Investigative reports revealed that al-Hammami left a substantial digital footprint indicating extremist views. CNN and other outlets analyzed nearly 3,000 deleted tweets from 2021 and 2022 using an AI-powered semantic search model. A social media account linked to the Omani co-pilot posted footage of Israeli aircraft and images of Al-Qaida figures, alongside misogynistic posts questioning mixed-gender workplaces. Separate reports indicated he had previously worked for Oman Air for seven years before leaving in February 2025, flew for Royal Air Maroc for about seven months, and had been suspended or faced concerns regarding extremist materials during his training.
Israel Vets Pilots to Improve Cockpit Security
The UAE requested that passengers’ baggage be returned on separate aircraft, and additional repatriation flights were scheduled for Saturday, with El Al and other operators assisting stranded travelers.
The incident has intensified global scrutiny regarding pilot vetting procedures and cockpit security. Prime minister’s office spokesperson Doron Spielman noted that pilots flying into Israel will be vetted and Israel will know their identities raising questions about cockpit security and pilot screening across international carriers.