NEW DELHI (Realist English). The incident occurred on 30 September aboard a Boeing 737 MAX flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv. About two and a half hours after takeoff, the aircraft began a sharp descent, losing about 17,000 feet (more than 5,000 meters) in less than two minutes. According to BBC Verify, the airliner was at an altitude of about 34,000 feet when it began to fall.
According to statements by Israeli authorities, the co-pilot, an Omani citizen, stabbed Machchar and attempted to disable the aircraft’s control systems. Passengers in the cabin heard screams from the cockpit, after which the door opened and they saw the bloodied pilot on the floor.
“He Fought Like a Lion”: How Passengers Subdued the Attacker
Despite serious injuries, Machchar managed to activate the cockpit door opening mechanism. This allowed passengers and crew members to rush inside and subdue the attacker.
Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayun, who was on board, told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he grabbed the attacker, applied a chokehold and pulled him out of the cockpit. According to him, the co-pilot tried to “destroy the instruments to disable the aircraft.” After that, Hayun returned to the controls and began pulling the yoke to level the plane.
Two Flydubai pilots who were on board as passengers then entered the cockpit and took control, safely landing the plane in Tabuk.
Reaction of World Leaders: “A True Hero”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Machchar “a true hero,” emphasizing that he “despite a knife wound and serious injuries, fought, resisted, opened the cockpit door and allowed passengers and crew to subdue the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called the pilot a hero: “In the face of mortal danger and despite serious injuries, he showed enormous courage and unwavering determination to protect the lives of others. His valor helped save hundreds of lives and prevent a great tragedy.”
US President Donald Trump also commented on the incident, calling Machchar a hero: “The terrorist… he stabbed the pilot… the pilot in bad condition found the strength, amazingly, a hero, to open the door!”
Pilot’s Condition: Stable After Surgery
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh confirmed that Machchar is in a hospital in Tabuk and his condition is stable. According to Hindustan Times, the pilot underwent surgery. Indian diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia are in contact with the pilot’s family and monitoring his health.
Dentist Shota Musaev, who was on board and helped provide first aid, told CNN that Machchar had “massive blood loss”: “I think if we had waited a few more moments, we would have lost him; his pressure dropped, he suddenly lost consciousness, and blood was everywhere.”
Key Parameters of the Incident
| Parameter | Data |
| Flight | Flydubai FZ1073 |
| Route | Dubai — Tel Aviv |
| Aircraft type | Boeing 737 MAX |
| Passengers | 174 (including 27 children) |
| Descent | ~17,000 feet in <2 minutes |
| Landing site | Tabuk, Saudi Arabia |
| Suspect | Omani citizen (co-pilot) |
| Pilot’s condition | Stable, underwent surgery |
Open Questions
Why did the co-pilot, an Omani citizen, carry out the attack? Israeli officials call it an “attempted jihadist terror attack,” but motives remain unclear, and Flydubai urges against premature conclusions.
Will the investigation led by Saudi Arabia be able to establish the true causes of the incident, or will the political context hinder an objective inquiry? And most importantly — how will this incident affect civil aviation security in the region, especially amid tightening security measures at Israeli airports? Answers will emerge as the investigation is completed and its results published.
