An Omani co‑pilot stabbed flydubai captain Smit Machchhar on a Boeing 737 during a 34,000‑foot cruise from Dubai to Tel‑Aviv on October 1, 2026, before the aircraft descended at a rate of 23,000 feet per minute.
The 737 carried 170 passengers, including Almog Italie, his wife, and their children, all returning from a Japan vacation. The flight had just cleared the Jordanian border when the sudden drop began.
The co‑pilot, who was later reported as Omani, thrust a knife into the captain’s chest while the crew attempted to maintain control. Captain Machchhar fought back, opened the cockpit door, and forced the assailant away, allowing passengers to help secure the cockpit.
Yaniv Hayoun, a passenger from the front section, seized the co‑pilot, choked him, and pulled him away from the cockpit, while a dentist on board delivered emergency care to the wounded captain.
With the cockpit now secure, two relief pilots seated at the rear of the cabin assumed control and rerouted the aircraft to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Local authorities in Tabuk provided medical assistance and arranged transport for the passengers.
Almog Italie described the ordeal as a "roller coaster" that could have ended in tragedy, but he praised the crew and passengers for their heroism. He also thanked the Saudi staff for their swift response.
Saudi aviation authorities have opened an investigation into the incident, while flydubai has suspended the co‑pilot’s license pending further review. The flight crew will be interviewed, and the cockpit footage is under forensic analysis.