Flydubai Captain Stabbed in Attempted Cockpit Takeover

Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar was seriously wounded when his co-pilot allegedly stabbed him and tried to seize control of a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight carrying 174 people. Despite his injuries, Machchhar opened the cockpit door and raised the alarm, allowing passengers and crew to subdue the attacker; other Flydubai pilots took control and diverted the aircraft to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. A passenger with medical training treated Machchhar, who was reported in stable condition in hospital. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised his actions. UAE authorities launched an investigation into a possible hijacking or terrorist motive.