Imagine sitting on a passenger plane when the aircraft suddenly starts falling thousands of feet.
On September 30, 2026, Flydubai Flight 1073 was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 people on board. Somewhere over Saudi Arabia, reports say a fight broke out inside the cockpit. The co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain, Indian pilot Smit Machchhar. The aircraft then plunged more than 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds.
Badly injured, the captain still managed to open the cockpit door. Passengers and crew rushed forward and helped overpower the attacker. By an extraordinary coincidence, two off-duty pilots were among the passengers. They helped regain control, and the flight diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. All 174 people survived.
The motive is still unknown. Authorities are investigating, including whether terrorism was involved, but no definitive explanation has been established.
Based on reports available as of October 3, 2026. Investigation ongoing.
