Flydubai flight: Israelis to receive heroism awards after tackling radicalised co-pilot
Five passengers who helped save a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight will receive bravery medals after an Indian pilot fought through stab wounds to unlock the cockpit.
Five Israeli passengers are to receive their country's civilian award for heroism after they overpowered a flydubai co-pilot who stabbed his captain and tried to crash a passenger jet.
The mid-air struggle took place aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Israeli President Isaac Herzog nominated the passengers for the bravery medals after details emerged of how they, alongside an Indian pilot, managed to save the aircraft from a catastrophic dive.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the co-pilot had undergone "radical Islamist indoctrination". Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu did not give further details on who radicalised the crew member but confirmed that Israel is cooperating with the United Arab Emirates on the investigation.
The cockpit struggle
The incident began inside the cockpit when the co-pilot stabbed the captain, Smit Machchhar, and attempted to plunge the Boeing 737 Max into a tailspin. Despite his injuries, Captain Machchhar held onto the controls long enough to keep the plane stable and entered the emergency hijack squawk code.
His most critical action, however, was manually overriding the reinforced, post-9/11 cockpit door lock. This manual override allowed passengers and off-duty crew to breach the flight deck and assist.
An Israeli plumber led the passenger charge into the cockpit. Video footage recorded inside the cabin by Shota Musayev, a dentist on board who also treated the captain's wounds, showed the co-pilot on his knees with his hands tied behind his back.
Global recognition
The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia confirmed that Captain Machchhar was in a stable condition. His home state of Gujarat has also announced a bravery award to honour him.
The pilot's actions drew international praise, including from US President Donald Trump, who commended Machchhar's "tactical awareness" and quick thinking to open the door despite being in "bad shape." Trump also praised Boeing, writing on Truth Social that the 737 Max withstood forces far beyond what it was designed to handle.
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said he hoped "the entire nation of India is proud of Capt Machchhar," adding that the pilot was a hero in Israel.
The official accounts put an end to a wave of online misinformation. In the hours immediately following the incident, social media platforms were flooded with conflicting claims about the pilot's nationality and fabricated conspiracy videos.
The co-pilot remains in custody. Neither flydubai nor Emirati authorities have released his name or detailed his current physical condition.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Number | FZ1073 | flydubai flight records |
| Israeli Civilians Nominated for Heroism Award | 5 | Office of the President of Israel |
| Date of Netanyahu Statement | 1 October 2026 | Israeli Prime Minister's interview with Fox News |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Smit Machchhar | The Indian captain of the flydubai flight who was stabbed but successfully unlocked the cockpit door. |
| Flydubai | The airline operating the flight on which the attempted hijacking occurred. |
