Issued on: 01/10/2026 - 07:58Modified: 02/10/2026 - 10:54
Smit Machchhar, the pilot wounded in a violent altercation in an Israeli-bound passenger jet Wednesday, is “in good health and recovering well”, India’s embassy in the United Arab Emirates said Thursday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier alleged the co-pilot believed to have stabbed Machchhar had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination”, without providing evidence for the claim. Read our blog to see how the day's events unfolded.
Saudi coalition accuses Houthis of drone attack on Medina
Yemen's Houthis struck an electricity distribution station in the holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi-led coalition said Thursday, sparking strong condemnation from several Muslim countries.
The pro-Iranian fighters, which control Sanaa and Yemen's Red Sea coastline, have repeatedly launched drones and missiles at Saudi Arabia since the start of the kingdom's intervention in Yemen's civil war in 2015, although attacks on Islam's holy cities are rare.
Riyadh, which backs the internationally recognised Yemeni government, had already accused the Houthis in mid-September of carrying out a drone attack against Mecca, a claim denied by the group.
Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki said a drone struck the Taibah electricity distribution station at 5:11 am (0211 GMT) on September 29.
Trump says Iran will be hit 'very hard' if it is behind copilot who tried to crash flight to Israel
US President Donald Trump said Thursday that if Iran is linked to the copilot who tried to crash an Israel-bound flight, the Islamic Republic would be struck “very hard” for the attempt on the lives of more than 180 people aboard the jet.
Trump issued the warning as investigators worked to determine why the copilot stabbed the flight's captain, causing the FlyDubai plane to plummet before others on board stopped the attack and landed the airliner in Saudi Arabia.
The president was asked by reporters at the White House whether he had been briefed about any links between the pilot behind the attack and Tehran. He said, “We’re working on it right now.”
“I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes, but we’re working on it right now,” Trump said. He did not elaborate about why he suspects Iran might be involved.
Asked if the US would retaliate against Tehran if it was behind the attack, Trump said, “Oh they’ll be hit, very hard, don’t worry.”
Saudi Arabia says suspect in FlyDubai plane attack has been handed over to the United Arab Emirates
Trump alleges that Iran might be linked to co-pilot who allegedly tried to crash Israel-bound flight
US President Donald Trump alleged that Iran may be linked to the FlyDubai co-pilot who apparently tried to crash the Israel-bound flight.
Trump was asked by reporters at the White House whether he had been briefed about any links between the pilot behind the attack and Tehran. He said, “We’re working on it right now.”
“I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes, but we’re working on it right now,” Trump said. He did not offer any details or evidence for his claim.
On whether the US would retaliate against Iran if it was responsible for the attack, Trump replied: "Oh, they'll be hit very hard, don't worry."
Israeli airline El Al says it will run flights to return Israelis from Dubai
Israeli airline El Al said it would operate special flights to repatriate Israelis in Dubai after UAE airline FlyDubai suspended its flights to and from Israel a day earlier.
"Starting tomorrow (Friday): El Al will operate special rescue flights from Dubai to Tel Aviv," the company said in a statement.
"The first flight will depart from Tel Aviv in the morning and leave Dubai for Tel Aviv at 11:00, LY974. An additional flight, LY972, will depart Dubai at 13:00," it added.
A spokesperson for the airline told AFP there would be an update once permission was granted for additional flights.
FlyDubai announced it was suspending flights to and from Israel on Wednesday, pending an investigation into an altercation on a Tel Aviv-bound flight which was forced to divert.
Indian pilot attacked in FlyDubai incident is in good health, Indian embassy in UAE reports
The Indian pilot who was attacked in the FlyDubai flight incident on Wednesday is in a good health and recovering well, the Indian embassy in the UAE said X.
The embassy said the Indian ambassador to the UAE visited the pilot in hospital and it remained in close coordination with local authorities to ensure his continued medical care and well-being.
Netanyahu alleges FlyDubai co-pilot underwent 'Islamist radical indoctrination'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alleged the co-pilot who tried to crash the FlyDubai passenger jet on its way to Israel had undergone "Islamist" radicalisation.
"We know that he underwent Islamist radical indoctrination," Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News. He did not provide any evidence to support the claim.
He also told "Fox & Friends" he would be able to say within a matter of days whether the FlyDubai co-pilot had connections to Iran.
Netanyahu also alleged the attacker had called out "kill me, kill me" to the aircrew, which the premier said made it clear he was suicidal.
Fifth person to get Israeli ‘heroism' award
Israel’s presidential office has added a fifth person to the list of people who will receive “heroism” awards for stopping the FlyDubai attacker.
Isaac Herzog’s office initially announced four award winners but later announced a fifth, Tali Manes, whose husband was among the originally named recipients.
Manes, his office said, heard the commotion in the cockpit and was the first to alert passengers and call for help.
How did the alleged attacker get a knife onboard?
One of the main questions surrounding the incident is how anyone – especially a pilot – was able to get a knife onboard. It is unclear how big the knife was or if it even was a knife.
In an interview with Fox News Channel on Wednesday night, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacker might have hit the captain with an axe. Airlines are generally required to carry crash axes in the cockpit for use in an emergency to break open a window to escape or break open a panel to access a fire.
Pilots undergo rigorous screening, including passing through metal detectors, at checkpoints at all airports. It is also standard for airlines to vet their pilots’ background for criminal and employment history, their physical and mental health, as well as having them undergo intelligence and security screening.
In addition to that, Israel has some of the most stringent airline security measures worldwide. Passengers on Israel-bound flights regularly are taken aside for questioning and baggage searches after passing through normal airport security. It is unclear whether the pilots of the FlyDubai flight had been screened as vigorously.
UAE probes possible ‘terror’ link
The United Arab Emirates is probing a possible “terrorist” link in the FlyDubai case.
The UAE’s chief prosecutor said an investigation had been launched into the incident, including the possibility of “terrorist activity or intent”.
Read more: Crew-related incidents in the past
Modi hails Indian pilot's courage
Israel president to present ‘heroism’ awards to 4 FlyDubai passengers
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he would present “heroism” awards to four Israelis who helped overpower the FlyDubai co-pilot and prevented him from crashing the plane they were on.
“You put yourselves at risk to save others and prevented a terrible disaster. Today, the whole world saw the beautiful and courageous face of Israeli society,” Herzog, who holds a largely ceremonial role, said in a statement.
Attacker’s identity and motive remain unknown
The identity and motive of the Omani copilot who stabbed his captain remains unknown for the time being.
In a CNN interview aired on Wednesday evening, Netanyahu said the arrested attacker was an Omani national and was being interrogated in Saudi Arabia. Asked if there is any indication of Iranian involvement, Netanyahu told Fox News “it’s too early to say". The prime minister told CNN that Israel had received no specific warning.
US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that he and Netanyahu discussed the incident “at length” by phone and it seemed as though the copilot “was perhaps a terrorist or perhaps a whack job".
Netanyahu had warned in recent days of unspecified, heightened security threats. The country is a week away from the anniversary of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which has triggered the war in Gaza.
Saudi Arabia turned down Israeli requests to send planes to retrieve passengers, source says
Saudi Arabia turned down multiple requests by Israel to send its own planes to retrieve passengers from the diverted flight, a Saudi source with knowledge of the matter told AFP.
"They asked to send military warplanes. Two or three direct to Tabuk airport," the source said. "Turned down." "Then asked to send [El Al] commercial one. Turned down as well."
The message was communicated through the UAE and not directly with the Israelis.
The source said the kingdom fulfilled its "international obligation" and assisted the passengers of the flight after they made the emergency landing, emphasising that nationality of the travellers had no impact on their decision. "We were to act the same way, regardless of the nationalities of flydubai passengers."
UAE prosecutor general orders investigation into diverted FlyDubai flight
The UAE prosecutor general has ordered an investigation into the incident aboard FlyDubai flight FZ1073, the state news agency reported.
The investigation will examine the circumstances and motives, including whether it was linked to any militant activity or involved prior planning or direction.
UAE judicial authorities have jurisdiction over the incident because the aircraft is registered in the UAE and flies under its flag, the statement said, adding that UAE law applies to crimes committed on board “even if they occur outside the country’s territory”.
Watch: Netanyahu says pilot of rerouted flight tried to crash plane
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pilot of the FlyDubai flight had tried to crash the plane and kill its passengers.
Passengers gave a similar account of the incident on board, describing a fight for control after the plane suddenly plummeted, losing around 17,000 feet of altitude in the span of a minute, according to the Flightradar24 website.
Like a 'rollercoaster': passengers describe harrowing FlyDubai flight
As Flight FZ 1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv approached the Jordanian border on Wednesday, passengers knew in an instant that something was wrong when the plane began plummeting from the sky in a rapid dive.
It was like "we were having very big turbulence, but there was no turbulence", passenger Almog Italie told AFP, describing the sensation of losing thousands of feet of altitude in seconds as similar to riding a "rollercoaster".
FRANCE 24's August Hakansson reports.
FlyDubai temporarily suspends flights to and from Israel
FlyDubai said its flights to and from Israel would be suspended while an investigation into the incident takes place.
(FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP, Reuters)
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