An off-duty British pilot was among the crew members who helped regain control of a Flydubai aircraft after a violent cockpit incident sent the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight into a rapid descent, according to passenger accounts.
Flight FZ1073 was carrying about 180 people when a confrontation between the pilots reportedly left the captain injured and the aircraft temporarily out of control. Passengers and crew intervened, while reserve pilots travelling onboard helped stabilise the Boeing 737 MAX before it was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Aircraft Plunges Thousands of Feet During Mid-Air Crisis
Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft suddenly lost more than 14,000 feet in roughly 30 seconds after reaching cruising altitude.
The jet later struggled to maintain a consistent altitude, prompting the transmission of emergency transponder codes. It initially used 7700, indicating a general emergency, before briefly switching to 7500, the international code for unlawful interference or a suspected hijacking.
The aircraft eventually turned toward Saudi Arabia and requested an emergency landing at Tabuk’s Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport.
Passengers Overpower Alleged Attacker
According to passengers quoted by Israeli media, the confrontation began in the cockpit after one pilot allegedly attacked the other with a knife.
The injured captain was reportedly able to open the cockpit door before collapsing, allowing passengers and crew members to enter. Several passengers then helped restrain the alleged attacker while other pilots onboard worked to regain control of the aircraft.
Reuters reported that Israeli officials said passengers subdued the co-pilot and that reserve pilots subsequently landed the aircraft safely in Saudi Arabia. The precise circumstances and motive remain under investigation.
British Pilot Steps In to Stabilise the Plane
Passenger Amol Itali told the BBC that two relief pilots were travelling on the aircraft and that one of them was British.
According to his account, the off-duty pilot entered the cockpit, pulled back on the controls and helped stabilise the aircraft before it was brought safely to the ground in Tabuk.
The role of the reserve crew proved particularly important because the incident had left the flight deck in turmoil while the aircraft was experiencing severe altitude changes.
Injured Captain Hailed by Passengers
The captain, identified in reports as Smit Machchhar, was among those injured during the incident. Footage recorded after the confrontation appeared to show him with significant facial injuries while passengers attended to him.
Machchhar, who is reported to be an Indian national, has served as a Flydubai captain since 2022 and previously worked for SpiceJet.
Passengers praised the captain and those who intervened as the aircraft approached its emergency landing.
Israeli Authorities Scramble Fighter Jets
The unusual emergency triggered a major security response in Israel because the aircraft was carrying a large number of Israeli passengers and was heading toward Tel Aviv.
Israeli fighter jets were reportedly scrambled after authorities became concerned that the aircraft could have been hijacked. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz were also briefed as the situation unfolded.
Katz described the incident as a suspected terror attack, although the motive has not been conclusively established. Other reports have stressed that investigators were still examining the circumstances and had not yet formally confirmed the motive behind the cockpit assault.
Flydubai Flight Lands Safely in Tabuk
After the aircraft was brought under control, it landed safely at Tabuk airport, where both pilots were taken to hospital for treatment.
Saudi authorities said the passengers received assistance at the airport while arrangements were made for their onward journey. Flydubai subsequently arranged a replacement aircraft to transport the passengers to their final destination.
Investigation Underway Into Cockpit Incident
Flydubai has confirmed that an incident occurred onboard and said the aircraft was secured by crew members travelling on the flight before being diverted safely to Tabuk.
The airline has also said the motives behind the incident remain unknown and are subject to a formal investigation. Saudi authorities are investigating the circumstances, while Israeli officials continue to assess whether the incident was an attempted terrorist attack.
The dramatic sequence has raised fresh questions about cockpit security and how the confrontation developed, but investigators will need to establish the full chain of events before definitive conclusions can be reached.
