The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched a high-level investigation into an incident on a Flydubai flight where an Omani co-pilot stabbed an Indian captain, causing the aircraft to drop thousands of feet before an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Thursday that it is closely monitoring the incident. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, the UAE’s Attorney General, has ordered the formation of a special team of public prosecutors to investigate the circumstances and causes of the event and collect related facts.
Cockpit attack leads to rapid descent
The incident occurred on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, aboard Flydubai flight FZ-1073, which departed from Dubai International Airport for Tel Aviv, Israel, at 8:35 AM (IST). Reports indicate that the Omani co-pilot attacked Indian Captain Smit Machhar with a knife while the aircraft was flying over Jordanian airspace, approximately at 10:51 AM (IST) over Saudi Arabia’s northwestern region. The co-pilot reportedly attempted to take control of the aircraft.
Following the attack, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft rapidly descended approximately 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds and a total of 17,000 feet in two minutes. The rapid descent reportedly caused damage to the aircraft’s rudder. The plane initially sent a general emergency signal (code 7700) at 11:01 AM (IST), followed seven minutes later by an unlawful interference or hijacking signal (code 7500) at 11:08 AM (IST). Upon receiving the emergency signals, Israeli Air Force fighter jets were immediately scrambled.
The aircraft, carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children, was diverted to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing. Passengers and crew members intervened to subdue and control the Omani co-pilot, with passenger Assaf Razuan and dentist Shota Musayev assisting in treating the injured captain.
Captain Machhar was transported to a hospital in Tabuk, and the Indian Embassy confirmed his condition is stable. The Omani co-pilot has been arrested by Saudi authorities and is currently under investigation. Saudi Arabia’s National Transport Safety Centre has also initiated a safety investigation into the incident.
Israel alleges ‘terrorist attack,’ aviation agreement breach
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the event as a “very serious security-related incident,” stating that one pilot attempted to crash the plane by stabbing the other. Israeli authorities are investigating the incident as a potential terrorist attack.
Israel’s Transport Minister Miri Regev has ordered an investigation into whether Flydubai violated the Israel-UAE aviation agreement by assigning an Omani pilot to a flight destined for Israel. According to the agreement, only pilots from countries with diplomatic relations with Israel are permitted on such flights, and Oman does not have diplomatic ties with Israel.
Colleagues of the Omani co-pilot, who had been with Flydubai for less than nine months, described him as a religious fundamentalist who prayed excessively and refused to shake hands with women.
Flydubai has temporarily suspended all flights to and from Israel until the investigation is complete and all facts are established. Israel has requested the co-pilot be sent to Israel for investigation, though it remains unclear if this request will be accepted. The UAE will investigate whether the incident was linked to any “terrorist activity or intent,” or if it was premeditated or directed by someone. Israel has also announced plans to tighten identity and security checks for pilots flying into its country.
The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged against spreading speculation or unverified information until the investigation is complete, advising reliance only on official sources.
