What happened — in brief
On 30 September 2026, Flydubai flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 flying Dubai → Tel Aviv, was carrying around 174–180 people.
About two hours into the flight, the aircraft suddenly made a very steep descent, losing roughly 14,000–17,000 feet in a short period.
The aircraft first transmitted Squawk 7700 (general emergency) and then Squawk 7500, the internationally recognised code for unlawful interference/hijacking.
According to Israeli officials and subsequent reports, the Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with a knife and apparently attempted to take control of the aircraft.
Despite being seriously injured, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door. Passengers and crew then entered and overpowered the attacker.
The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. All passengers survived. Machchhar was taken to hospital and underwent surgery; reports say he is in stable condition.
Saudi authorities took the co-pilot into custody. The motive remains unclear, and Flydubai has cautioned against premature conclusions while the investigation continues.
So, it appears to have been an attempted deliberate takeover/crash from inside the cockpit rather than a conventional passenger hijacking. The exact motive and sequence of events are still under investigation.