The Israeli‑bound flydubai flight FZ 1073 was pulled from a potential crash on October 4, 2026, when co‑pilot Hamam al‑Hammami was physically restrained by four passengers and two off‑roster pilots inside the cockpit. Captain Smit Machchhar, who had just opened the cockpit door, shouted for help and the passengers seized the opportunity to wrest control of the aircraft.
Passengers, including a plumber, an insurance broker, a bank executive and a dentist, coordinated to subdue al‑Hammami, who had allegedly tried to stab the captain. One passenger, Yaniv Hayun, used a technique from the TV show "Mayday" to stabilize the yoke while the others bound the co‑pilot with earphones and restraints.
The crew and passengers later testified that they feared the crew’s complicity in the attack, insisting that the flight was under passenger control and that the co‑pilot was to be handed over to police. Tali Manes, who was standing near the lavatory when the commotion began, convinced a backup pilot to check the cockpit, discovering the violent scene.
Captain Machchhar suffered lacerations to his head and hands but survived, receiving first aid from dentist Shota Musaev, the only medical professional on board. The flight was diverted to a small Saudi airport where Israeli police received al‑Hammami.
Israeli Civil Aviation Authority officials announced that the incident will be fully investigated, and the flight crew, passengers and al‑Hammami will be questioned. The event has already spurred a review of cockpit security protocols on international flights.