Mid-Air Stabbing and Emergency Plunge: Passengers Recount Terrifying Israel-Bound Flight
Passengers describe chaos after a mid-air stabbing on an Israel-bound flight forced an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Investigation into motives continues.
POLICY WIRE — Tel Aviv, Israel — A routine flight to Israel turned into a harrowing ordeal on Wednesday when a mid-air stabbing in the cockpit triggered an emergency alert and a rapid, terrifying descent. The Flydubai aircraft, carrying approximately 180 passengers, was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after one pilot allegedly attacked his colleague.
Passenger Aviatar Alevi described a scene of absolute chaos, noting that the cabin was filled with screaming and panic as blood became visible. He remarked that the prospect of death felt like a genuine possibility during the flight.
Data from FlightRadar24 indicates the plane plummeted more than 14,000 feet in just 29 seconds, causing structural damage to the rudder upon landing. While the injured pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar, recovers in a Saudi hospital, the assailant—an Omani national—remains in custody for interrogation.
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Heroic intervention by passenger Yaniv Hayun proved critical in stabilizing the aircraft. Hayun, who was later pictured with blood-stained clothing alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, explained that he rushed into the cockpit, subdued the attacker, and assisted in controlling the plane.
Prime Minister Netanyahu suggested the incident might have been a suicide attempt rather than a hijacking, though he noted it is too early to rule out Iranian involvement. Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz characterized the event as a jihadist terrorist attack, a sentiment echoed by some U.S. and Saudi officials who are currently reviewing the evidence.
President Donald Trump addressed the incident as an incredible story, speculating that the co-pilot may have been a terrorist or mentally unstable. Saudi authorities are continuing their investigation, as officials from both Israel and Saudi Arabia work to determine the underlying motive behind the assault.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
