DUBAI, October 1, 2026 — Dubai-based carrier flydubai has suspended all flights to and from Israel after the shocking cockpit attack aboard flight FZ1073 on Wednesday, in which a pilot stabbed his colleague and allegedly tried to bring the aircraft down over the Middle East.
The airline confirmed the temporary suspension in a statement issued in coordination with the relevant authorities, saying it would remain in place while investigators work to establish all the facts surrounding the incident.
“Following the incident involving flight FZ 1073 on 30 September, and in coordination with the relevant authorities, flydubai flights to and from Israel will be suspended while the investigation continues,” a flydubai spokesperson said, according to statements carried by regional media.
Safety First, Says Carrier
“The safety and wellbeing of our passengers, crew and operations remain our highest priority,” the spokesperson added. “This temporary suspension will allow the relevant authorities to continue their work and establish all the facts surrounding the incident.”
The carrier said it was fully committed to supporting the investigation and remained in close coordination with government authorities, regulators and airport stakeholders. It apologised to passengers whose travel plans were affected and said it was working to provide support and alternative arrangements where possible. No date was given for the resumption of services.
Emirates, flydubai’s sister carrier under the Emirates Group, also moved swiftly: it suspended its codeshare operations with flydubai to and from Tel Aviv with immediate effect, meaning passengers whose final destination is Tel Aviv will not be accepted for Emirates travel under the affected codeshare arrangements, airline sources said.
The Nightmare at 33,000 Feet
Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 operating from Dubai International (DXB) to Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV), was diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia after an altercation broke out in the flight deck, the airline said earlier.
According to statements from Israeli officials and flight-tracking data, the aircraft plunged from 33,000 feet to around 17,000 feet in about a minute after one pilot stabbed the other in a bid to crash the plane. The distress call came about two and a half hours into the flight; the pilots issued an emergency squawk before switching to a code signalling unlawful interference.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the injured captain — identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar — managed to unlock the cockpit door despite serious stab wounds, allowing a passenger and a crew member to rush in and subdue the attacker. Two off-duty flydubai pilots on board then took control and brought the aircraft down safely in Tabuk.
“They saved many lives. They prevented a huge disaster,” Netanyahu said, describing the Indian captain as “a true hero” whose “extraordinary bravery” prevented a catastrophe.
Captain Stable, Attacker in Saudi Custody
India’s Embassy in Riyadh said on Wednesday it was closely monitoring the health of Captain Machchhar, who is admitted to a hospital in Tabuk and reported to be in stable condition. The mission said it was in touch with his family and coordinating with Saudi authorities.
Saudi authorities said both pilots were taken off the plane with stab wounds after landing, and that the attacker was under arrest and being questioned. Emirati authorities have not so far identified a motive for the attack.
The airline deployed two replacement aircraft to Tabuk to bring the stranded passengers home, and flydubai said the incident had no impact on its other scheduled operations. A replacement flydubai flight landed Wednesday evening to carry most of the passengers — many of them Israeli nationals — onward to Tel Aviv.
As investigations continue, aviation security experts told regional media the incident would refocus attention on cockpit access and pilot vetting — an unsettling new question for an industry already on edge ahead of the anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attacks.
