The stabbing on Indian pilot Smit Machchhar by Omani co-pilot Hammam al-Hammami on flydubai flight has now brought six countries officially into the fold.
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stabbing → bring → fold
The attack on September 30 was on a flight flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv, when it was forced to make an emergency landing after the stabbing of Indian pilot by his Omani co pilot.
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it → fly → pilot
The incident unfolded on September 30 when flydubai Flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 170 people on board, went into a sharp descent after the co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit.
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pilot → unfold → cockpit
The jet plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds amid the fight.
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jet → plunge → fight
Machchhar, an Indian national, managed to open the cockpit door despite being injured, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot.
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passengers → manage → pilot
The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely and the alleged attacker was detained.
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attacker → divert → Arabia
The UAE is doing the direct investigation, with Israel, and now Australia and other authorities also examining different aspects of the case.
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Israel → do → case
So, here's how 6 countries have gotten "mixed-up" in one incident.
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countries → mix → incident
Pilot Smit Machchhar hailed as a hero
India’s connection to the incident centres on Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who was attacked by his Omani co-pilot while flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Despite being seriously injured, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot and enabling two other pilots aboard the aircraft to take control.
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passengers → hail → control
The plane was then safely landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
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plane → land → Tabuk
Machchhar’s actions drew praise from both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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actions → draw → Modi
PM Modi called him a “hero” and said his courage helped save hundreds of lives and avert a major tragedy and even held a video call with him.
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courage → call → him
Netanyahu also hailed Machchhar for saving the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and also called him while the pilot in recovering in Abu Dhabi hospital.
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Netanyahu → hail → hospital
Indian authorities in Saudi Arabia have been assisting Machchhar and his family, while he has been recovering from his injuries.
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he → assist → injuries
Also read:
Machchhar tells Netanyahu chilling flydubai cockpit ordealIsrael:
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Machchhar → read → ordealIsrael
The flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, carrying more than 170 passengers and crew, most of them Israeli nationals.
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most → travel → them
After the cockpit attack sent the aircraft plunging, the plane was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.
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plane → send → Arabia
The passengers later continued their journey to Israel on a replacement flydubai aircraft.
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passengers → continue → aircraft
The incident has since raised questions about security checks for foreign airlines flying into Israel.
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incident → raise → Israel
Netanyahu ordered tighter checks on pilots flying to Israel, while Israeli investigators are expected to participate in the UAE-led probe.
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investigators → order → probe
The issue has become particularly sensitive because Oman, the co-pilot’s home country, does not have diplomatic relations with Israel.
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Oman → become → Israel
Netanyahu has questioned how an Omani national came to be assigned to an Israel-bound flight.
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national → question → flight
Also read:
Did Israel ignore warnings?
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Israel → read → warnings
UAE shared info about flydubai crew & Omani co-pilotOman: The co-pilot and questions over his past
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UAE → share → past
The alleged attacker, identified as Hammam al-Hammami, is an Omani national.
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attacker → allege → Hammami
UAE authorities have described the incident as an attempted “terrorist attack”, saying he attacked the captain with a crash axe and tried to take control of the aircraft.
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he → describe → aircraft
The motive remains under investigation, and Oman has not publicly commented on the case.
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Oman → remain → case
The biggest question around Oman is al-Hammami’s reported history.
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question → report → Oman
People familiar with the investigation told Reuters that he had previously been employed by Oman Air, while other reports said he had been barred from flying because of concerns over extremist views and was moved to an administrative role.
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he → tell → role
He later left Oman Air.
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He → leave → Air
Reuters also reported that he underwent three months of training with Royal Air Maroc in 2025 but was not selected for employment.
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he → report → employment
These details have intensified questions over how he subsequently came to work for flydubai and operate a flight to Israel.
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he → intensify → Israel
Where the plane landed
Saudi Arabia became part of the story because the aircraft was flying over Saudi territory when the cockpit attack sent it into a steep descent.
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attack → land → descent
After passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot, reserve pilots aboard the flight took control and landed the aircraft at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
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pilots → subdue → Arabia
Saudi authorities detained the co-pilot there.
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authorities → detain → pilot
The country also became an early centre of the investigation.
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country → become → investigation
Netanyahu said Saudi authorities would interrogate the co-pilot, while Indian authorities in Saudi Arabia worked with local officials to assist Machchhar and his family.
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authorities → say → Machchhar
Thepilot was subsequently transferred from Saudi Arabia to Abu Dhabi after his medical condition improved.
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condition → transfer → Dhabi
Also read:
Crew of flydubai demanded release of co-pilot after he attacked Smit, claim flyersUAE:
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flyersUAE → read → Smit
The flight, airline and the investigation
The UAE is central to the case because the flight originated in Dubai and is operated by flydubai, which is owned by the Dubai government.
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which → originate → government
…and 13 more, not listed.
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