Two Off-Duty FlyDubai Pilots Saved Flight After Co-Pilot Attack

Two off-duty FlyDubai pilots, who were traveling as passengers, intervened to save flight 1037 to Israel after the co-pilot attacked the captain. The pilots were on board to operate a later return flight from Tel Aviv to Dubai, and their presence was coincidental. Following the attack on Captain Smith Machar, which caused the plane to enter a steep dive, passengers struggled with the assailant. Once the captain opened the cockpit door, passenger Yaniv Hayon initially worked to stabilize the aircraft. One of the off-duty pilots then entered the cockpit, took the controls, and was soon joined by the second off-duty pilot. They secured the cockpit, recovered the aircraft from its dive, and declared an emergency, broadcasting a distress signal. Passengers reported that stabilizing the plane took at least ten minutes, during which time they were unaware of the pilots' identities or the flight's destination, with one fearing they might be headed to Iran. Approximately 45 minutes after the change in the cockpit, passengers were informed that the situation was under control and the plane was diverting to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where a safe landing was executed. A FlyDubai representative confirmed to AP that additional crew members took control of the aircraft, but the airline has not disclosed their identities.