Israel calls Dubai-Tel Aviv flight cockpit attack a jihadist terror attack
Israel says a co-pilot stabbed the pilot and tried to crash a flydubai jet from Dubai to Tel Aviv; crew and passengers overpowered him and it landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a violent struggle in the cockpit. Israel has called the incident a jihadist terror attack. The suspect has been arrested and is being questioned by Saudi authorities.
Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737, took off from Dubai International Airport early in the morning with about 170 passengers, most of them Israeli. More than two hours into the journey, as it approached Israel, the aircraft suddenly plunged. Flight tracking data showed it dropped around 17,000 feet in under two minutes, with some reports saying 14,000 to 15,000 feet in about 30 seconds. The plane briefly entered Jordanian airspace before turning back towards Saudi Arabia.
As the aircraft fell, it sent a general emergency code, 7700, and then a hijacking or unlawful interference code, 7500. Israeli and Saudi fighter jets were reportedly scrambled. The plane landed at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia. Passengers described screams, a rollercoaster-like drop and blood in the cabin. Video and testimony showed two pilots on the floor, one injured and one restrained.
According to passengers and Israeli officials, a passenger and crew members forced their way into the cockpit and overpowered the attacker. Two relief pilots who were travelling on the plane, one said to be British, then took control and landed the aircraft. The captain and first officer were taken to hospital. The injured pilot was identified by Israel as Indian national Smith Machar. Reports about the attacker's identity have varied, with some saying he was an Omani national. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pilot who carried out the stabbing had been arrested and was being questioned by Saudi authorities.
Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, called it an attempted jihadist terrorist attack. Netanyahu said a very serious disaster was averted and praised the passengers and crew. He met some of those who tackled the attacker after they arrived back in Tel Aviv on a replacement flydubai aircraft. There were emotional scenes at Ben Gurion Airport.
Questions remain about how a knife got on board, how the attacker was radicalised and whether anyone else was involved. Israeli officials have suggested the attacker may have acted alone. The motive and any state involvement are still under investigation. The incident happened amid heightened regional tension and ahead of Israeli elections.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One | BBC Two | Channel 4 | GB News | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia after an in-flight incident. | ||||||||
| Reports described a fight between the pilots, including a claim that one pilot stabbed the other and an Israeli media report that the plane descended almost 17,000 feet in a minute. | ||||||||
| The pilot accused of carrying out the stabbing was arrested and is being questioned by Saudi authorities. | ||||||||
| The crew asked for help and passengers restrained or tied down one of the pilots. | · | · | · | |||||
| Everyone survived after the plane dropped over 10,000 feet during the cockpit incident. | · | · | · | · | ||||
| Israel described the incident as a potential terrorist attack. | · | · | · | · | ||||
| An off-duty British pilot regained control of the plunging airliner. | · | · | · | · | · | |||
| Passengers returned to Tel Aviv and were met with celebrations at Ben Gurion Airport. | · | · | · | · | · | |||
| Tabuk Airport said the captain and first officer were taken to hospital after sustaining injuries. | · | · | · | · | · | |||
| The pilot who was attacked was named as Schmidt Machar, an Indian national. | · | · | · | · | · | |||
| A former pilot questioned how a weapon came to be on the plane. | · | · | · | · | · | · | ||
| A second Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, F71081, was diverted and was heading back to Dubai, according to Flightradar24. | · | · | · | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Rolling coverage focused on flight tracking data, emergency codes and official Israeli statements. It was cautious about the changing accounts, noting that initial hijack reports were not confirmed and later highlighting Netanyahu's claim that one pilot tried to crash the plane. It also named the injured pilot as Indian national Schmidt Machar and reported the passengers' arrival in Tel Aviv.
- “The aircraft has landed safely in Tabuk Airport. All passengers are safe and accounted for.”
- “Benjamin Netanyahu says the pilot who carried out the stabbing has been arrested and is being questioned by Saudi authorities”
- “The pilot, attacked during a mid-air incident on a flight to Israel, has been named as Schmidt Machar, an Indian national.”
Channel 4 led with the terror framing and the dramatic cockpit struggle, including a passenger interview about forcing into the cockpit. It also gave space to an aviation security expert on the insider threat from pilots. Its coverage noted the Israeli election context and a replacement flydubai flight to Ben Gurion.
- “A plane carrying 180 passengers from Dubai to Tel Aviv has touched down safely after an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, following what Israel is describing as a potential terrorist attack.”
- “Israeli media claims one pilot stabbed the other pilot as the plane plummeted almost 17,000 feet within a minute.”
- “one of the Israeli passengers who helped to foil a potential terror attack on board a plane bound for Tel Aviv has described how he and another man forced their way into the cockpit”
5 News stressed the human drama, using graphic images and passenger phone testimony. It highlighted the steep dive, the rudder damage and the role of two relief pilots. The tone was emotive but factual, focusing on survival and heroism.
- “A plane flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv had to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia this morning, apparently after a fight between the pilots in the cockpit.”
- “It was reported one pilot stabbed the other.”
- “Pictures from the tarmac show the 737's rudder has been torn from the tail fin.”
BBC ONE West gave a detailed timeline of the flight and the emergency codes, then followed the passengers' return to Israel. It featured Netanyahu's account and named the injured Indian pilot. Its later bulletins emphasised relief and the search for answers.
- “A flight from Dubai bound for Israel has made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after a pilot on the plane was stabbed.”
- “An Israeli official has told journalists in the country that a very serious disaster was averted.”
- “Israel has identified him as this man Indian national Smith Machar.”
ITV1 framed the event as a major security incident and possible terror attack, with dramatic reconstructions and expert analysis. It highlighted the off-duty British pilot who helped land the plane. Its evening coverage examined whether the attack would affect Israeli politics.
- “What happened on flight 1073?”
- “An off-duty British pilot then helped to land the plane safely in Saudi Arabia.”
- “Israeli officials speaking to ITV News this evening are now convinced that this was a terror attack.”
Sky News gave grave rolling coverage, quickly reporting the Israeli government's jihadist terror attack description. It focused on the co-pilot's alleged role, the Omani national identity and the extreme descent data. Its experts discussed cockpit security and whether the threat came from inside the flight deck.
- “Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu says a pilot has been arrested after Stabbing another pilot and trying to crash the plane on a flight bound for Tel Aviv”
- “the Israeli defense minister Israel Katz Has gone even further And said that this was an attempted jihadist terrorist attack”
- “Israel says the co-pilot, an Omani national, stabbed the pilot and sent the flydubai jet plunging 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.”
GB News treated the story as a dramatic near-disaster and a miracle, with front-page reviews and talk of British pilots. It focused on the passengers' return and the suspect's arrest. Its discussion also raised security questions about how a knife got on board.
- “Passengers on a flight at the centre of a dramatic midair attack have now arrived back in Tel Aviv to scenes of celebration at Ben Gurion Airport.”
- “Israel's Prime Minister says one pilot stabbed another and tried to crash the plane on route from Dubai to the Israeli capital.”
- “The suspect has since been arrested”
Newsnight used a calm passenger interview to reconstruct the terror on board. It then moved to the Israeli election context and the political fallout. Its framing was analytical, asking how the attack might affect voters and security policy.
- “Suddenly the plane started to, like a roller coaster, drop down like a massive G-force.”
- “Israel's prime minister says one pilot stabbed the other and, quote, apparently tried to crash the plane.”
- “The Israeli election is in 27 days, Andrew Neil. Do you think, from your experience, this might feed into it?”
Who was on air
People and organisations each channel put on air while covering this story. Channels' own presenters and reporters are not listed. Names as transcribed, and the list can miss people.
- 12:03 BST
“Well, Saudi's Tabuk Airport says that it's coordinating with Flydubai to secure a replacement”
BBC News Now · Wed 30 Sept - 15:01 BST
Pep Guardiola, former Manchester City coach
“former Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola comments for the first time since the club's financial scandal broke saying we'll get through this together.”
Verified Live · Wed 30 Sept - 15:03 BST
Amr Ghatali, passenger on board the plane
“Amr Ghatali was on board the plane and explained what other people told him they saw.”
Verified Live · Wed 30 Sept - 15:06 BST
Noah Spiegel, whose 74-year-old mother was travelling back to Israel on board that plane
“We also spoke to Noah Spiegel, whose 74-year-old mother was travelling back to Israel on board that plane.”
Verified Live · Wed 30 Sept - 21:04 BST
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister
“I have instructed the security services to prepare for additional potential threats.”
The Context · Wed 30 Sept - 21:05 BST
Alistair Rosenschein, aviation consultant and former airline pilot
“Let's speak to Alistair Rosenschein, aviation consultant and former airline pilot.”
The Context · Wed 30 Sept
- 13:03 BST
Amol Ghatali, was on board the plane
“Amol Ghatali was on board the plane and explained what other people told him they saw.”
BBC News at One including... · Wed 30 Sept - 13:05 BST
“Authorities at Tabuk Airport say that both the captain and the co-pilot”
BBC News at One including... · Wed 30 Sept - 18:05 BST
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister
“I have instructed the security services to prepare for additional potential threats.”
BBC News · Wed 30 Sept - 22:13 BST
- 22:13 BST
Moti corner, Another passenger
“In my life. I've never seen death pass before my eyes.”
BBC News and Weather · Wed 30 Sept
- 22:42 BST
Almog Atali, one of those on the plane
“I've been speaking to one of those on the plane, Almog Atali, who's just arrived back in Israel.”
Newsnight, followed by Weather · Wed 30 Sept
- 19:06 BST
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister
“he told Benjamin Netanyahu that he was the one who pulled the plane”
Channel 4 News · Wed 30 Sept - 19:06 BST
ALMOG Italy, one of those passengers who was on the flydubai plane
“passengers who was on the flydubai plane ALMOG Italy thank”
Channel 4 News · Wed 30 Sept - 19:09 BST
Philip Baum, aviation security expert
“Well earlier I spoke to the aviation security expert Philip”
Channel 4 News · Wed 30 Sept
- 16:01 BST
“Guardiola after Man City was found guilty”
Sky News Today with Jayne Secker · Wed 30 Sept - 16:07 BST
“They heard voices or takots. Somebody asked for help. Pilot is screaming. Help, help, help.”
Sky News Today with Jayne Secker · Wed 30 Sept - 16:07 BST
Terry Tozer, former airline pilot and airline safety expert
“Well, not directly the same”
Sky News Today with Jayne Secker · Wed 30 Sept - 16:12 BST
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister
“This morning there was a very serious security incident on a flight from Dubai to Israel”
Sky News Today with Jayne Secker · Wed 30 Sept
- 19:37 BST
Sharren Haskel, former Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel
“I'm joined by Sharren Haskel from the Tel Aviv area, the former Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel.”
New: Farage · Wed 30 Sept - 23:09 BST
Mark Littlewood, Director of the Popular Conservatives
“oftentimes when you get these things, people tend to default to saying it's a miracle that people survived.”
New: Patrick Christys Tonight Late... · Wed 30 Sept - 23:11 BST
Nina Myskow, broadcaster and journalist
“So the injured co-pilot managed to somehow get the door open.”
New: Patrick Christys Tonight Late... · Wed 30 Sept
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.