#Aviation

A flydubai Boeing 737-800 aircraft on the tarmac

Flydubai survivors reach Israel as Riyadh declines Israeli rescue flight

All FZ1073 passengers have left Saudi Arabia for Israel after the cockpit attack that diverted their Dubai–Tel Aviv flight; Riyadh turned down an Israeli rescue flight, and Netanyahu ordered tighter airline security.

2 October 2026 · 2 min read

A flydubai Boeing 737-800 aircraft in flight

International

Co-pilot stabbed captain and tried to crash flydubai flight, says Netanyahu; 174 lives saved by passengers

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 stabbed the captain and "tried to crash the plane" with 174 people aboard, crediting the Indian captain Smit Machchhar and passengers who stormed the cockpit with averting disaster. The co-pilot has been arrested in Saudi Arabia.

2 October 2026 · 2 min read

A Flydubai Boeing 737. Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

India

Indian captain stabbed on Dubai–Tel Aviv flight is "safe" in Saudi hospital, government says

Captain Smit Machchhar, who grew up in Mumbai, was attacked by his co-pilot on Flydubai flight FZ1073, which diverted to Tabuk. Leaders in India and Israel have credited him with saving everyone on board.

1 October 2026 · 3 min read