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Attack reported in the cockpit on Dubai-Tel Aviv flight

Flydubai said a co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with an emergency axe kept in the cockpit on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The UAE Public Prosecution said the incident took place about two and a half hours into the flight, which had more than 170 people on board, and that the aircraft lost about 5,200 meters of altitude.

According to prosecutors, the attacker tried to take control of the plane. After the co-pilot was subdued with the help of passengers, two reserve pilots took over the controls and the aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia.

The injured captain, Smit Machchhar, was taken to a nearby hospital after initial treatment and later flown to Abu Dhabi. The Indian Embassy in the UAE said the Indian pilot was in good health and recovering well.

Passengers entered the cockpit to stop the attacker

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the alarm on the plane was triggered by Israeli passenger Tali Manes, who heard the commotion coming from the cockpit. Her husband Zvika Manes, along with Yaniv Hayun, Dr. Shota Musayev and Asaf Rajuan, entered the cockpit after the injured captain opened the door from the inside.

Yaniv Hayun was said to have pulled the attacker out of the cockpit and, with help from other passengers, helped restrain him. At the same time, the aircraft reportedly descended sharply before control was restored.

Emergency codes sent during the flight

  • 7700: General emergency declaration.
  • 7500: Unlawful interference or hijacking declaration.

Officials said the aircraft first sent the general emergency code and then the code indicating hijacking or unlawful interference. While initial passenger accounts suggested a knife had been used in the attack, prosecutors said the weapon was an axe kept in the cockpit for emergencies.

Terrorism suspicion emerges in the investigation

UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said initial findings indicated the co-pilot may have been trying to carry out a terrorist act. The prosecution said all circumstances of the incident, the motive and any possible links are being investigated.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacker was a co-pilot from Oman. Although some international media outlets published a name, there has been no official confirmation of that information.

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