Liz Claman reports that an Israel-bound flight departing Dubai performed an emergency landing after a co-pilot stabbed the pilot during flight. Passengers restrained the assailant, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized the incident as an attempted terror attack.
President Donald Trump commended Boeing and its 737 MAX series after a FlyDubai aircraft endured a sudden, steep descent amid what appeared to be an attempt to crash the Israel-bound jet carrying over 170 passengers.
On Thursday, Trump lauded the American aerospace manufacturer, highlighting the jet’s capacity to endure the extreme forces experienced during the midair emergency.
“Congratulations to the GREAT Boeing Company for producing a plane, the 737 Max, that was able to withstand G Forces and Strain far beyond what it was designed and expected to do,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“It was an amazing show of precise and powerful structural planning and design. It is about time that The Boeing Company, which builds, by far, the finest commercial airliners in the sky, was given credit for this airplane’s incredible ‘genius!’ To Kelly Ortberg, and all of his officers and associates at Boeing, congratulations on a job well done!!!”
President Donald Trump looks on during the signing of a security pact between the U.S., Denmark and Greenland during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters on Sept. 22, 2026, in New York City. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Trump’s remarks followed the incident involving FlyDubai Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which dropped almost 14,000 feet in under thirty seconds on Wednesday while a violent confrontation took place in the cockpit.
Passengers exited the domestic arrivals terminal after a FlyDubai repatriation flight landed at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel on September 30, 2026. The aircraft, en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a violent altercation in the cockpit. (Gil Cohen-Magen/picture alliance via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Israeli authorities stated that the co-pilot assaulted the captain in an apparent bid to down the aircraft. The injured pilot succeeded in opening the cockpit door, enabling passengers to subdue the assailant before reserve crew members assumed control and landed the plane safely at Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Passengers have been commended for their intervention as the jet rapidly lost altitude.
All passengers were confirmed safe after the emergency landing, while both pilots received medical treatment for injuries sustained, Tabuk airport officials reported.
A replacement FlyDubai aircraft touched down at Ben Gurion Airport after the original flight, bound for Tel Aviv from Dubai, was diverted to Saudi Arabia due to a violent cockpit altercation. (Gil Cohen-Magen/picture alliance via Getty Images / Getty Images)
FlyDubai stated that the root causes of the incident are still unclear and warned against premature speculation. The United Arab Emirates initiated an investigation on Thursday to ascertain the facts and motivations, including any possible links to terrorism or pre‑meditated planning.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi both praised the flight’s captain, Indian national Smit Machchhar, for his conduct during the emergency.
Netanyahu informed Fox News that Machchhar appeared to have been stabbed or struck with an axe by the other pilot, resulting in significant bleeding.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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