A Flydubai Boeing 737 carrying 174 passengers made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia Wednesday after one of its pilots stabbed the other in what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as a possible suicide attempt or act of terrorism.
The aircraft, Flight FZ 1073, had departed Dubai and was approaching Tel Aviv when the attack occurred. Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 shows the plane plunged more than 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds during the terrifying midair assault.
Passengers described scenes of chaos and panic as the plane violently dropped. A 17-year-old student named Aviatar Alevi told reporters he initially thought the aircraft had malfunctioned before hearing screams about a stabbing in the cockpit. He said he believed he was going to die.
A passenger named Yaniv Hayun entered the cockpit along with three others and physically subdued the attacking pilot. Hayun told Netanyahu that when he got inside the cockpit the attacker was not trying to stabilize the plane but was actively trying to jam the controls.
Hayun said he choked the attacker and pulled him away from the equipment before working with others to regain control of the aircraft. Netanyahu personally thanked Hayun at Ben Gurion Airport while he was still wearing a blood-soaked shirt.
The injured co-pilot was identified as Indian national Captain Smit Machchhar. He is currently in stable condition at a Saudi hospital. Netanyahu praised Machchhar on social media saying he saved the lives of everyone aboard.
Two senior U.S. law enforcement officials told NBC News that the pilot who carried out the attack is from Oman. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called the incident a jihadist terrorist attack while Saudi authorities continue investigating. No group has claimed responsibility.
Early findings from both Israeli and Saudi investigators suggest the incident is increasingly being treated as a terrorist act. A Saudi Embassy spokesperson said authorities are also examining whether the attack was directed by Iran or the Houthis and expected more clarity within 24 hours.
President Donald Trump told reporters he spoke with Netanyahu at length about the incident calling it an incredible story. He said the attacking pilot may have been a terrorist.
Four dual U.S. citizens were among those on board. Flydubai has suspended all flights to and from Israel pending the outcome of the investigation. Passengers were eventually flown to Ben Gurion Airport where they were reunited with family members.