Trump recounts dramatic cockpit incident aboard Dubai-Tel Aviv flight

US President Donald Trump has recounted a dramatic incident aboard a Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv,

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has recounted a dramatic incident aboard a Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, saying an Israeli passenger helped restrain an attacking co-pilot after the pilot was stabbed. Trump said the account was shared with him by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but acknowledged that he could not independently verify the details.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump said the co-pilot may have been a terrorist or an individual experiencing a personal crisis. He described how the aircraft reportedly began descending rapidly after the attack.

According to Trump, an Israeli passenger working as a plumber helped overpower the co-pilot and assisted in recovering the aircraft despite having no flying experience.

However, According to reports, passengers and crew entered the cockpit and restrained the co-pilot, allowing two other Flydubai pilots aboard the aircraft to take control and land safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Flight-tracking data indicated that the aircraft descended nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds during the incident.

Flight FZ1073 was carrying 174 people, most of them Israeli nationals, when the incident occurred. Israeli officials said the co-pilot attacked the captain, identified by Netanyahu’s office as Indian national Smit Machchhar.

According to a spokesperson , the injured captain managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew members to intervene and restrain the attacker.

The incident triggered a struggle inside the cockpit as those aboard attempted to prevent further harm and regain control of the aircraft. Israeli officials subsequently praised the passengers who intervened, while Netanyahu met some of them after their arrival in Israel.

Following the emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, the co-pilot was taken into custody. An Israeli official identified him as an Omani national. His motive remained under investigation, and authorities had not established the reasons behind the attack.

Flydubai described the incident as an altercation in the cockpit and confirmed that the aircraft had diverted safely to Tabuk. The airline said the circumstances surrounding the incident were still being examined and cautioned against premature conclusions.

The episode also prompted Israel to announce tighter security checks for pilots operating flights into the country. A spokesperson for Netanyahu said authorities would seek to establish the identities of pilots flying into Israel and conduct security checks.

A separate diplomatic issue emerged when Saudi Arabia reportedly rejected an Israeli request to send military aircraft to evacuate the passengers from Tabuk. Sources reported that Israel had considered deploying Super Hercules aircraft. The passengers instead continued their journey on a Flydubai plane.

The incident highlights the security challenges facing international aviation and the importance of cockpit safety procedures. It also underscores the continued air links between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, established following the countries’ 2020 diplomatic agreement under the US-brokered Abraham Accords.

The UAE aviation regulator said the security incident had been brought under control, while the investigation into the co-pilot’s actions continued.