An Omani national stabbed the captain of flydubai flight 1073 as it departed Dubai for Tel Aviv on Thursday, 28 Oct 2023, forcing the aircraft to divert to Jeddah. The Indian pilot, Smit Machchhar, was wounded but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing the backup crew to take command before passengers overpowered the assailant.
Captain Smit Machchhar, 37, was the first to react after being stabbed, his quick action buying precious minutes for the backup pilots on board. Israeli passengers seized the attacker, preventing a potential crash and securing the flight’s safe landing.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar labeled the incident a “jihadist terror attack” and cited the attacker’s motive as an attempt to undermine Israel‑UAE relations under the Abraham Accords. He praised the courage of Machchhar and the Israeli crew for averting disaster.
Saudi investigators are reviewing the case; the co‑pilot will be transferred to the UAE, where Israel is pressing for extradition. Diplomatic talks with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed are underway to ensure the case proceeds swiftly.
The attack arrives amid heightened tensions around the Abraham Accords. Sa’ar warned that extremists cannot derail the partnership and that Israel will not allow the incident to sway bilateral ties. The next step will be formal extradition proceedings and potential counter‑terrorism cooperation between the two nations.