FlyDubai FZ1073 latest: Netanyahu says hijack pilot 'used axe' in cockpit attack

FlyDubai FZ1073 latest: Netanyahu says hijack pilot 'used axe' in cockpit attack The pilot who allegedly stabbed another pilot and tried to take over FlyDubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday may have used an 'axe' in the attack, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu claimed The co-pilot who allegedly stabbed the captain of FlyDubai flight FZ1073 in an apparent attempt to crash the plane may have used an "axe" in the attack, according to Israel's prime minister. Benjamin Netanyahu told CBS News yesterday: "As they approached Israel, one of the co-pilots stabbed or hit with an axe the other pilot, an Indian pilot. And the pilot that was hit, bleeding profusely, fighting for his life, managed to unlock the pilot's door." Airlines are generally required to carry crash axes in the cockpit for use in an emergency to break open a window to escape or break open a panel to access a fire. The Israeli Prime Minister's comments come as Saudi officials investigating the horror incident said initial findings show the co-pilot "assaulted the captain". Donald Trump has said he believed Iran may be linked to the co-pilot but a senior Israeli official said this had, so far, been ruled out. The flight issued an emergency hijacking alert yesterday morning, around two and a half hours into its flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The injured pilot - identified as Indian national Capt Smit Machchhar - and a number of passengers bravely fought back control and regained control of the plane, which then made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. One of the passengers who helped was Yaniv Hayoun, who Netanyahu described as a "great hero". Mr Hayoun said: "I grabbed the attacker, put him in a chokehold, and pulled him - first and foremost - outside." He then said he helped pull the aircraft's controls. Mr Hayoun claimed he knew how to control the plane after watching the TV show Air Crash Investigation. Have you been involved in the FlyDubai incident? If so, please get in touch and share your story by emailing livenews@reachplc.com Key Events Netanyahu praises heroes Netanyahu has praised the heroes after inviting them to his office to hear their accounts of confronting the attacker. He said: “The entire world sees Israeli heroism. “You will light a torch of civilian heroism on Independence Day.” Netanyahu praised their courage, resourcefulness and faith, crediting them with preventing a huge disaster and saving lives. 'Dad we don't want to die' - horrifying screams of child as plane nose dived Nina Mines, 6, was with her mother Tali and father Tzika on the way to Tel Aviv from Dubai when the plane nose dived. Her father, Tzvika, rushed to grab his daughter from the bathroom after his wife screamed about what was haooening in the cockpit. He said: “The shrieks of my daughters when the plane nosedived [are still with me]. They said, ‘Dad we don’t want to die.’ [Their cries] were the triggers that caused me to run inside the cockpit.” Brave six-year-old played vital role in stopping attack A brave six-year-old girl and her mother played a vital role in stopping the alleged attack on the flight bound for Israel. Nina Manes was on the plane when chaos erupted, having boarded with her mother Tali and father Tzika on the way to Tel Aviv from Dubai. They heard the commotion when Nina had asked her mother to take her to the toilet and Tali said: “I screamed, ‘He is stabbing the pilot, he is stabbing the pilot, come help!’ People looked at me and didn’t understand.” Netanyahu says 'too early to say' if co pilot has links to Iran Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that it was “too early to say whether he had any connections with Iran or with anyone else.” It comes after Trump said Iran may be linked to the FlyDubai co-pilot who allegedly stabbed the pilot. When asked whether he had been briefed about any links between the attacker and Tehran, Trump told reporters at the White House: "We're working on it right now." American-Israeli woman held girl's hand as flight plunged A woman aboard the plunging Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight held hands with an 11-year-old girl and prepared goodbye messages to her family as she feared she might not survive. Mika Bauman, 25, a dual US-Israeli citizen, described the terrifying ordeal to NBC News, saying passengers screamed as the aircraft suddenly descended during the cockpit attack. "We didn't let go until Saudi Arabia," she said. Mika, who lives in Boston, said she could not see what was happening at the front of the aircraft but could tell it was angled toward the ground. She described intense pressure as the jet fell. Israeli official says co-pilot's link to Iran 'ruled out' A senior Israeli official has said today that investigators have so far ruled out a connection between the Omani co-pilot and Iran, Y Net News reports. This comes as Donald Trump has earlier told reporters that, based on what "he's hearing", there is a link between the attacker and Tehran. The suspect is currently detained in the United Arab Emirates, having been transferred there today from Saudi Arabia. Captain Smit Machchhar was also transferred to the UAE and remains in hospital. Saudi government says co-pilot assaulted captain Saudi Arabia's interior ministry, which is investigating the FlyDubai incident, has released a statement saying preliminary investigations show the planes co-pilot assaulted the captain. The statement which the ministry says "comes from an official source" says the incident "resulted in various injuries to both". It says both men were both treated in hospital for injuries and left for Abu Dhabi this morning after receiving medical clearance. The statement adds: "The Kingdom handles emergency situations in accordance with its international and humanitarian obligations, as well as the regulations and directives adopted by the relevant authorities." Trump says attacker may be linked to Iran Donald Trump has said Iran may be linked to the FlyDubai co-pilot who allegedly stabbed the pilot and attempted to crash the plane. When asked whether he had been briefed about any links between the attacker and Tehran, Trump told reporters at the White House: "We're working on it right now." He added: "I would say the answer, based on what I'm hearing, is yes, but we're working on it right now." Read the full story here. 'He stabbed the pilot!' A mother who was heading to the toilet with her daughter reportedly alerted the cabin about the altercation that was ongoing in the cockpit. Daniel Schlichter, a passenger on the flight, said: "There was a woman with a daughter going to the toilet, and a few seconds after that, she pulled her daughter back to the passenger area, screaming, 'He stabbed the pilot!'. "A few seconds after that, I heard a very violent fight coming from the cockpit area. "The door was a little bit open, which is standardly not a sound that you hear from the cockpit. "I immediately understood that there was a situation going on inside." Netanyahu meets passengers who helped save FlyDubai flight Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has met passengers who helped bring the FlyDubai emergency under control, praising their actions as an example of “Israeli heroism”. Netanyahu met Yaniv Hayun, Or Pardilov, Dr Shota Musayev and his wife Sigalit at his office after hearing their account of the struggle onboard the flight from Dubai. The group told him they had restrained the pilot involved in the attack using a headphone cable. According to the account shared by Netanyahu’s office, the pilot was heard saying “Kill me” after being overpowered. Netanyahu told the passengers they had prevented a major disaster and saved many lives, adding that they would light a torch of civic heroism on Israel’s Independence Day. He also urged Israelis to remain vigilant, saying the country was in a “very sensitive time” and warning of continued threats. Pilot stabbed on plane 'in good health' The Indian pilot injured during the incident onboard FlyDubai flight FZ1073 is in "good health" and "recovering well", according to the Indian embassy in the UAE. The embassy said India’s ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, visited Captain Smit Machchhar in hospital and remained in close contact with local authorities over his treatment. Machchhar appears to have been transferred from Saudi Arabia to the UAE for further medical care following the emergency landing in Tabuk. Mittal said it was “reassuring” to meet the captain and thanked the UAE government for the “support and medical care” being provided to him. Netanyahu says attacker was suicidal and shouted 'kill me' after being restrained Benjamin Netanyahu has said the attacker shouted "kill me, kill me" to the cabin crew after being restrained, which the Israeli prime minister said made it clear he was suicidal. Netanyahu also claimed that the co-pilot who tried to crash the FlyDubai passenger jet on its way to Israel had undergone "Islamist" radicalisation. "We know that he underwent Islamist radical indoctrination," Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News. He did not provide any evidence to support the claim. Co-pilot who stabbed captain on FlyDubai jet acted alone, Israeli officials say Israeli officials have said the co-pilot who stabbed the Captain Smit Machchhar on yesterday's FlyDubai flight to Tel Aviv acted alone. The motive behind the apparent attempt to crash the plane has not yet been determined, they added. Graph shows how plane lost altitude rapidly A distress call was issued at 8.44am local time (6.44am BST/ 5.44am UTC), about two and a half hours after the flight departed Dubai in the UAE for Tel Aviv, Israel. Officials later said a fight had broken out in the cockpit after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the pilot and attempted to crash the aircraft. The plane rapidly lost altitude, dropping from 33,000ft to 17,000ft in about a minute. It then circled close to the Jordanian border before landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, about an hour later. Israel's carrier to operate special repatriation for Israelis stranded in Dubai Israel's national airline El Al has confirmed it will operate a special repatriation service to bring home Israelis stranded in Dubai. It comes after all FlyDubai flights to and from Israel were suspended. One-way tickets will be sold at a flat rate of $249 (£188), including one piece of carry-on luggage, The Times of Israel reported. Motive remains unclear as intelligence services investigate The motive behind the attack onboard FlyDubai flight FZ1073 has yet to be established, according to Israel’s envoy to the United Arab Emirates. The envoy told Reuters that the suspect pilot was an Omani national, but stressed it was too early to draw conclusions about what was behind the incident. Israeli intelligence services are investigating what happened and are working with other agencies, the envoy added. Four Americans were on board FlyDubai flight, US officials say Four American citizens who also hold Israeli citizenship were emong the passengers on board the Israel-bound FlyDubai flight on Wednesday, two US officials told CNN. US President Donald Trump said yesterday that he had spoken "at length" with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the suspected hijacking attempt. UAE says it is probing possible terror link The United Arab Emirates has said it is probing a possible terror link in the FlyDubai incident. The UAE’s chief prosecutor said an investigation had been launched into the incident, including the possibility of "terrorist activity or intent". Israel's president to present 'heroism' awards to four Israeli passengers Israeli President Isaac Herzog has said he will present "heroism" awards to four Israelis who he said helped overpower the FlyDubai co-pilot and prevented him from crashing the plane. "You put yourselves at risk to save others and prevented a terrible disaster. Today, the whole world saw the beautiful and courageous face of Israeli society," Herzog, who holds a largely ceremonial role, said in a statement. Among the Israelis to receive the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism is Yaniv Hayoun, a plumber who says he beat and pinned down the co-pilot after breaking into the cockpit. Yanoun, wearing a bloodied shirt, was personally welcomed on his return to Israel yesterdday at Ben Gurion Airport by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu claims man attacked fellow pilot 'with axe' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the pilot used an "axe" when he "stabbed" or "hit" the other pilot, identified as Smit Machchhar. Aviation experts say he could have been referring to the aircraft's crash axe, a lightweight emergency axe usually kept in the cockpit and used by crew to cut through aircraft materials during an emergency. In an interview with CBS News yesterday, Netanyahu said: "As they approached Israel, one of the co-pilots stabbed or hit with an axe the other pilot, an Indian pilot. And the pilot that was hit, bleeding profusely, fighting for his life, managed to unlock the pilot's door." However, it has not been confirmed what instrument was used in the attack. Passengers reported seeing a man holding what appeared to be a knife while the captain was bleeding. FlyDubai has warned against "premature speculation" and said that many details remained unclear. Here's what we don't yet know about the incident on the FlyDubai pilot We are still waiting for more information on a number of key details surrounding the attack on yesterday's FlyDubai flight FZ1073. The following details remain unclear: - The identity of the attacker, although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he is an Omani national - The motive behind the attack - The extent of the injuries sustained by the two pilots, although the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia yesterday said Capt Smit Machchhar, who was stabbed by a fellow pilot, is in a "stable" condition in hospital The UAE prosecutor general has ordered an investigation into the incident, the state news agency reported. The investigation will examine the circumstances and motives behind the attack, including whether it involved prior planning or direction. UAE authorities have jurisdiction over the incident because the aircraft is registered in the UAE and operates under its flag, the statement said, adding that UAE law "applies to crimes committed on board even if they occur outside the country’s territory". Here's what we know so far about the incident on yesterday's FlyDubai flight - A pilot stabbed another pilot, captain Smit Machchhar, on board FlyDubai flight FZ1073 as it was carrying 174 people from the UAE to Israel on Wednesday morning - Passengers rushed into the cockpit and wrestled with the attacker as the plane descended rapidly, according to witnesses and Israel’s government - About two and a half hours into the flight from Dubai, the flight descended from 33,000ft to 17,000ft in about a minute - "We’re going to die," passenger Naama Bershadski recalled thinking as she closed her eyes and prayed - The plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk City, Saudi Arabia - The shaken passengers from the flight landed in Israel on Wednesday evening on a replacement flight - Israel’s emergency services said they treated three passengers with minor injuries - It is not clear what motivated the attack, but Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz called the incident a thwarted "terror attack" - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a CNN interview that the attacker was an Omani national and was being interrogated in Saudi Arabia, where he was arrested - Aviation experts were surprised the plane did not crash after such an extreme descent, which left most of the rudder ripped from the tail, The Associated Press reports Eerie remarks made by FlyDubai pilot a year before incident Capt Smit Machchhar, who was stabbed on Wednesday's FlyDubai flight, made eerie remarks about cabin crew being able to "save your life" in a podcast recorded almost a year before the incident. In a podcast episode uploaded to YouTube on October 17, 2025, Capt Machchhar said he believed people often did not treat cabin crew properly. The captain told host Zalak Mehta on the Bona-Fide Banter podcast: "When we are up there and if something happens, who's going to save you? You'd be lucky enough to have a doctor on board, but then if not, then they [cabin crew] are trained ... they can save your life, you know?" He described the public's "outlook" towards cabin crew as "unfortunate", adding: "When things are going wrong, you need them." It was like 'we were having very big turbulence, but there was no turbulence', says passenger Passengers realised the plane was plummeting as soon as Flight FZ 1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv approached the Jordanian border. It was like "we were having very big turbulence, but there was no turbulence", passenger Almog Italie told the AFP news agency, describing the sensation of losing thousands of feet of altitude in seconds as similar to riding a "rollercoaster". FlyDubai temporarily suspends flights to and from Israel FlyDubai said its flights to and from Israel would be suspended while an investigation into yesterday's incident takes place. 'No doubt' incident was 'terror attack' says Israeli ambassador Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon said that there was "no doubt" that a FlyDubai pilot was attempting to bring down the plane, calling it a miracle the plane could land. "We have no doubt that it was a terror attack of a radical individual," Danon said. "We know that there was an intention to bring that plane down, and we are grateful," he continued. 'Attacking pilot' being investigated in Saudi Arabia Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the "attacking pilot" is being investigated in Saudi Arabia. He will then likely be taken to the United Arab Emirates, where the plane took off from, according to Netanyahu. The pilot's precise motive is currently unknown. Captain labelled 'hero' by Indian Prime Minister Machchhar has been labelled a 'hero' by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi posted on X: “In the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, he showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others. His valor helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy. According to his LinkedIn profile, Machchhar has worked for Flydubai for about four years. Before joining the airline, he spent 11 years with SpiceJet, an Indian low-cost carrier, where he served as a senior commander and line training captain. Heroes 'stopped a global disaster' Netanyahu has claimed the heroes on board the plane stopped a global disaster from happening. The Israeli Prime Minister said: “They stopped a disaster that could have been global.” Netanyahu recalled how the seriously injured Indian captain unlocked the cockpit door, allowing Chayon to enter, pull the attacker away from the control and lift the plane's control stick. He called the actions of other passengers and crew members that then helped restrain the attacker “tremendous courage that prevented another 9/11.” Child on board plane said they "flew to the ceiling" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described some of the terrifying moments onboard the Israel-bound Flydubai flight including how children "flew to the ceiling." Recalling his conversation with the hero's family about the harrowing experience he said: "I asked the children, 'What happened when the plane was nosediving?' and the kid said, 'We flew to the ceiling.'" "People were already saying their prayers. They thought they were going to all crash and die. "And they were saved — saved by heroes."