# Flydubai Flight 1073 Midair Chaos

> Passenger's alarm saved 174 from midair cockpit attack.
- Title: Flydubai Flight 1073 Midair Chaos · Nationalpost | Shortify
- Summary: Passenger's alarm saved 174 from midair cockpit attack. Flydubai flight FZ1073 crew and passengers avoided disaster after co-pilot stabbed captain in cockpit.
- Keywords: flydubai, flight fz1073, co-pilot, captain, cockpit, midair, passenger, tel aviv, saudi arabia, tabuk airport, september 30, 2026
- Source: Nationalpost — https://nationalpost.com/news/how-flydubai-flight-1073-drama-unfolded
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: flydubai, flight fz1073, co-pilot, captain, cockpit, midair, passenger, tel aviv, saudi arabia, tabuk airport, september 30, 2026
## Nina Manes' urgent need
Six-year-old Nina Manes needed to pee as Flydubai flight FZ1073 approached Jordanian airspace on Sept. 30, 2026.
## Cockpit chaos begins
Pilot lunged to attack co-pilot in apparent fight for control of the plane.
## Mother's alarm
Tali screamed, 'He’s stabbing the pilot, he’s stabbing the pilot, come help!' to passengers.

> He’s stabbing the pilot, he’s stabbing the pilot, come help!
## Cockpit blood and injury
Co-pilot stabbed captain, causing blood and sharp fighting moves in the cockpit.
## Captain's desperate plea
Captain Smit Machchhar described fighting for life as aircraft approached disaster.

> I was fighting for my life. I had suffered so many injuries that I had collapsed.
## 174 saved from crisis
174 passengers and eight crew members avoided disaster after cockpit attack.
## Key takeaway

Flydubai flight FZ1073 crew and passengers avoided disaster after co-pilot stabbed captain in cockpit.