According to Trump, the passenger helped restrain the attacker and assisted in recovering the aircraft after it began plunging. However, Trump stressed that he could not independently confirm the account.
“This is the story that I heard – I don’t know if it’s true, but that’s the story that I got from Bibi (Netanyahu),” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Co-Pilot Allegedly Attacked Captain
Trump said the co-pilot was “perhaps a terrorist or perhaps a whack-job” and had stabbed the pilot.
The attack allegedly occurred while the aircraft was flying from Dubai towards Tel Aviv. Following the incident, the aircraft rapidly descended before passengers and crew intervened.
The flight was carrying 174 people, most of whom were Israeli nationals.
Israeli officials said the co-pilot stabbed the captain before the aircraft entered a rapid descent. Netanyahu’s office identified the captain as Indian national Smit Machchhar.
Machchhar was injured during the incident. However, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to enter.
Passengers Help Overpower Attacker
Passengers and crew members reportedly entered the cockpit after the captain opened the door. They then struggled to restrain the co-pilot.
Trump said an Israeli passenger described as a plumber played an important role in stopping the attacker.
According to Trump’s account, the passenger had no flying experience. Despite that, he allegedly helped pull the aircraft out of its dive after the cockpit attack.
The account has not been independently confirmed. Trump himself cautioned that he had received the information from Netanyahu and others.
Meanwhile, passengers described a frantic struggle inside the cockpit as they tried to control the attacker.
Israeli officials praised those who intervened during the emergency. Netanyahu later met passengers who helped stop the assault after they reached Israel.
Aircraft Drops Nearly 14,000 Feet
The aircraft experienced a rapid loss of altitude during the incident.
Flight-tracking data indicated that the aircraft dropped nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.
The emergency created a serious situation for those aboard the Flydubai aircraft. However, a second pair of Flydubai pilots was also travelling on the flight.
After passengers and crew members overpowered the co-pilot, the second pair of pilots took control of the aircraft.
They subsequently landed the aircraft safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Co-Pilot Taken Into Saudi Custody
Following the emergency landing, Saudi authorities took the co-pilot into custody.
His motive remained under investigation after the incident. An Israeli official identified him as an Omani national.
Flydubai said the reasons behind the incident were not yet known. The airline also urged against premature speculation while the investigation continued.
The UAE’s aviation regulator described the incident as a security matter that was brought under control.
Meanwhile, Flydubai referred to the incident as an “altercation” in the cockpit. The airline said the aircraft later diverted safely to Tabuk.
Israel Announces Tighter Pilot Security Checks
The cockpit incident has prompted Israel to announce tighter security checks for pilots flying into the country.
A spokesperson for Netanyahu said Israeli authorities would seek to establish the identity of every pilot flying into Israel.
Authorities would also carry out security checks on pilots arriving in the country.
The measures follow concerns raised by the incident and the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack.
Saudi Arabia Rejects Israeli Aircraft Request
The emergency landing also created an unusual diplomatic complication involving Israel and Saudi Arabia.
After the aircraft landed in Tabuk, Israel requested permission to send military aircraft to retrieve the Israeli passengers.
Saudi Arabia rejected the request.
Israel had reportedly prepared to send Super Hercules aircraft for the passengers. However, Saudi Arabia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel.
The passengers instead continued their journey aboard a Flydubai aircraft.
The episode added a diplomatic dimension to an incident that had already created an emergency onboard the commercial flight.
Flydubai Flight Was Carrying 174 People
The affected aircraft was operating flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
There were 174 people aboard when the incident occurred. Most of the passengers were Israeli nationals.
The aircraft was travelling towards Tel Aviv when the cockpit attack allegedly took place.
After the emergency, the aircraft diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. The second pair of pilots then landed the aircraft safely.
The UAE government had not immediately issued a comment on the incident.
Flydubai, however, said the cockpit altercation was brought under control. The airline also confirmed that the aircraft diverted safely to Tabuk.
Incident Raises Fresh Aviation Security Concerns
The incident comes amid heightened security concerns in Israel. It also occurred weeks before the country’s elections.
The episode has raised additional attention around security procedures for pilots flying into Israel.
Israel’s planned checks will focus on establishing the identities of pilots and conducting security screening.
At the same time, the incident highlights the aviation links between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
Those links developed after the two countries established diplomatic relations under the US-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020.
Flydubai operates daily flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv. The incident therefore involved not only an emergency aboard a commercial aircraft but also passengers from Israel, an Omani co-pilot and an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
For now, the circumstances surrounding the alleged cockpit attack remain under investigation. The reported account of the passenger helping recover the aircraft also remains unverified.
Trump acknowledged that uncertainty when recounting the story, saying he had heard it from Netanyahu and others rather than confirming it independently.
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