Netanyahu praises heroic bystander in bloody cockpit attack for preventing ‘another 9/11’
FlyDubai Flight 1073, bound from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was forced to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday after an alleged cockpit attack. The incident, which took place at an altitude of roughly 30,000 feet, involved a crew member who reportedly stabbed another pilot and attempted to bring the aircraft into a nosedive.
The attack was said to have begun when a co‑pilot, identified by Israeli officials as an Omani national, was wounded after being stabbed or struck with an axe. The wounded pilot, an Indian national named Capt. Smit Machchhar, was found to have severe injuries and was fighting for his life, according to Israeli statements. With the captain incapacitated, the plane fell from 30,000 to about 17,000 feet in roughly one minute.
Passengers and crew aboard the 174‑seat aircraft, most of whom were Israeli, reportedly broke into the cockpit and subdued the attacker. A passenger, Yaniv Chayon, is credited with breaking into the cockpit and taming the assailant, allowing the crew to regain control of the aircraft. The flight ultimately diverted to Saudi Arabia and landed safely in Tabuk after a brief period of turbulence and cabin shuddering.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Fox News on Wednesday, praising the “unbelievable courage” of the passengers and specifically highlighting Chayon’s actions. “The passengers, including 30 children, are already saying their prayers. They know they’re gone from this world,” Netanyahu said. “And this young man just acts with incredible, incredible heroism and saves the day.” He went on to say that the incident “prevented another 9/11” and that the attacker “obviously hated Israelis because he was going to kill about 170 of them on this plane, killing himself, too.” Netanyahu described the motive as rooted in hatred and antisemitism, noting that many have fallen prey to “propaganda” that vilifies Israel.
After the emergency landing, the alleged attacker was arrested by Saudi authorities. The incident has prompted FlyDubai to suspend all flights to and from Israel pending investigation. Israeli investigators are examining the co‑pilot’s motive and whether he acted alone.
The incident has drawn comparisons to the September 11 attacks, with Netanyahu stating that the pilot’s “coolness of judgment and heroism… just tremendous courage that prevented another 9/11.” The flight’s ordeal ended without any reported fatalities beyond injuries to the crew. The aircraft’s safety systems and the swift response of the passengers and crew were cited as decisive factors in averting a larger disaster.