NEW DELHI: A passenger aboard the Israel-bound Flydubai flight FZ1073 says he heard “Allahu Akbar” shouted shortly before the aircraft began a sudden descent, adding a new detail to the account of the incident that triggered an attempted hijacking response and a major security alert.
Eighteen-year-old passenger Oran Choen told the BBC that he heard “Allahu Akbar” being shouted shortly before the Flydubai aircraft began its sudden descent. Choen said he could not identify who shouted the words and described the ordeal as lasting about five minutes but feeling “like hell.” The BBC News report containing this specific “Allahu Akbar” account is currently unavailable for direct access.
Separately, Israel National News Arutz Sheva reported a passenger account that a crew member shouted “Allahu Akbar” and moved towards the pilot before Israeli passengers intervened. Israel National News also reported a Channel 12 account in which a passenger said shouts of “Allahu Akbar” were heard when the cockpit door opened.
Spanish newspaper Clarin likewise reported an account from a passenger’s relative that the alleged attacker shouted “Allahu Akbar” before moving towards the pilot.
The Boeing 737 MAX was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30 with 174 people aboard, according to reports. Around two-and-a-half hours after departure, the aircraft suddenly lost thousands of feet of altitude. Flight-tracking data showed the plane descending rapidly before emergency signals were transmitted.
The aircraft first transmitted squawk 7700, the international code for a general emergency, and subsequently sent 7500, the code associated with hijacking or unlawful interference. The signals prompted Israeli authorities to scramble fighter aircraft and prepare for a possible hijacking involving an aircraft carrying Israeli passengers.
Pilot stabbing, hijacking attempt and emergency landing
According to Israeli officials, the incident involved one pilot stabbing another pilot before attempting to take control of the aircraft. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pilot apparently attempted to crash the aircraft, while Defence Minister Israel Katz described the episode as an attempted jihadist terror attack.
My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery.
Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air…
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) September 30, 2026
The stabbed captain is identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar. Reports say Machchhar resisted the attacker despite being wounded and helped open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene. Israeli passenger Yaniv Hayoun was among those who helped restrain the attacker. Additional flydubai pilots travelling aboard the aircraft subsequently took control and guided the plane to safety.
The aircraft diverted to Tabuk Airport in north-western Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Saudi authorities arrested the suspected attacker and began questioning him. Israeli media reported that the suspect is an Omani national, although the investigation into his identity, motive and actions remains ongoing.
Flydubai has confirmed that an incident occurred aboard FZ1073 and that the aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, with passengers and crew accounted for. The airline has said the official investigation will establish the circumstances surrounding the cockpit incident.
After the emergency landing, the passengers were eventually transported from Saudi Arabia to Israel on replacement flights. The episode is now being investigated as a possible terror attack and attempted hijacking, with Israeli authorities examining the reported stabbing, the rapid descent, the emergency codes and the circumstances surrounding the suspected attack.
