Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said authorities will investigate whether Iran had any connection to the alleged attempt to take control of a flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Speaking to Fox News host Sean Hannity, Netanyahu said investigators would try to establish whether the attacker had any accomplices and whether Iran was involved.
“We’ll get to the root of this attacker, whether he had accomplices, whether Iran was behind it. I think we’ll find out very soon,” Netanyahu said. However, Netanyahu also stressed that it was too early to establish an Iranian connection. Israeli officials have so far not presented evidence linking Tehran to the incident.
What happened aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073?
The incident took place aboard Flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 people on board. According to Israeli officials and reports, the co-pilot allegedly attacked and stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit. During the confrontation, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 suddenly lost nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.
An emergency alert was issued as the aircraft descended rapidly. The plane was then diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. The exact sequence of events inside the cockpit and the motive behind the attack remain under investigation.
Netanyahu says Israel may join investigation
When asked whether there were signs of Iranian involvement, Netanyahu said authorities needed more time before reaching a conclusion. “It’s too early to say, the attacking pilot is … now being investigated in Saudi Arabia. I think he’ll be taken to the Emirates, where he comes from, or at least where he left, where he flew off from, and we’ll be following and possibly also participating in this investigation,” Netanyahu said.
The suspected attacker was arrested after the aircraft landed in Tabuk. Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the cockpit confrontation, the suspected motive and whether anyone else was involved.
Flydubai urges caution over speculation
Flydubai has said that the reasons and motives behind the incident have not yet been established. The airline has urged people not to draw conclusions while the authorities investigate what happened.
The incident has also led to the suspension of flydubai flights to and from Israel while investigations continue.
Indian captain Smit Machchhar praised for his actions
Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot, has received widespread praise for his actions during the emergency. Despite being seriously injured, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door. This allowed passengers and crew members to enter the flight deck and help restrain the attacker.
Two other pilots who were travelling on the aircraft also helped take control of the plane before it was safely landed in Tabuk.
Netanyahu praised the Indian captain in a post on X, highlighting his actions during the crisis.
“Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker – preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster,” he wrote. “He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals.”
Captain Machchhar undergoes surgery
Machchhar, who is from Mumbai, has been a flydubai captain since 2022 and previously worked with SpiceJet. Reports said he was taken to hospital in Tabuk following the emergency landing and underwent surgery. He was later reported to be in a stable condition.
The suspected attacker was also taken into custody by Saudi authorities. With investigations now involving authorities in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Israel, the focus remains on establishing exactly what happened inside the cockpit and whether the incident was an isolated act or involved a wider plot.
