BREAKING: Plane Hijacking Probe - Israeli Officials Say Co-Pilot Sought ‘9/11-Style’ Attack as Graphic Details Emerge
Flydubai FZ1073 May Have Been ‘9/11-Style’ Attack, Israeli Officials Say as Chilling Cockpit Details Emerge
TABUK, Saudi Arabia — Israeli officials and security sources said Wednesday that the violent cockpit attack aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv may have been an attempted “9/11-style” attack intended to crash the jet and kill those on board, as passengers described a bloody struggle, a plunging aircraft, and moments they believed they would die.
An Israeli official told Channel 12 that “one pilot stabbed the other and tried to do a 9/11.” Separate security sources cited by British media said investigators were examining whether the co-pilot planned to crash Flydubai Flight FZ1073 into an Israeli city after killing the captain — a scenario they described as a “9/11 scenario.” Defense Minister Israel Katz called it an “attempted jihadist terror attack.” National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said a “terrorist” had planned to crash the plane and murder the Israelis aboard.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8, carrying about 174 people (most of them Israeli), left Dubai International Airport early Wednesday for Ben Gurion Airport. About two and a half hours into the flight, the co-pilot — identified by Israeli officials as an Omani national who had worked for the airline less than a year — allegedly stabbed Capt. Smit Machchhar, an Indian citizen, with a knife and tried to seize the controls and sabotage the aircraft’s systems.
Flight data showed the jet dropped 14,000 to 18,000 feet in as little as 30 to 90 seconds, then climbed and dived erratically. Ground speed spiked well above normal. The aircraft transmitted emergency code 7700, then hijacking code 7500. Israel scrambled fighter jets. A passenger later recalled thinking: “That’s it, it’s over. September 11 is happening again.” Others said the plane went into a spin or felt “pretty much out of control.”
Despite serious stab wounds and lying bloodied on the cockpit floor, Machchhar opened the door. Passengers and crew rushed in. One passenger, Yaniv Hayun, said he found the attacker at the instruments “trying to destroy” them, put him in a chokehold, and dragged him out. Others said the struggle lasted 20 to 30 minutes; the suspect was bound with charging cables or headphone cords. A reserve Flydubai crew traveling as passengers — added because possible rerouting could have exceeded duty-hour limits — then helped land the plane at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
Graphic video from inside the cabin showed the wounded captain and a blood-smeared scene. Both pilots were hospitalized; Machchhar was later described as stable. No passengers were reported seriously injured. After hours on the ground, most travelers reached Tel Aviv on a replacement flight. The suspected attacker was detained by Saudi authorities.
Flydubai said an “altercation occurred in the flight deck,” confirmed all passengers were safe, and urged against “premature speculation” while authorities investigate. The airline suspended flights to and from Israel. UAE and Saudi officials have not publicly confirmed the Israeli account of an attempted crash or terror motive. Israeli agencies, including Shin Bet and Mossad, are examining how the co-pilot obtained clearance to fly into Israel, with which Oman has no diplomatic relations. Netanyahu ordered tighter screening of pilots on flights into the country.
New York Post | The Times of Israel | Reuters | The Mirror | Financial Times | The Jerusalem Post | India Today | CNN
Flydubai FZ1073 May Have Been ‘9/11-Style’ Attack, Israeli Officials Say as Chilling Cockpit Details Emerge
Israeli sources say Flydubai co-pilot may have tried a 9/11-style crash after stabbing the captain. Plane plunged 18,000 feet; passengers subdued attacker. Graphic accounts and latest investigation updates.
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