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A six-year-old’s request to use the lavatory brought her mother, passenger Tali Manes, near the front of Flydubai flight FZ1073. Manes says she then heard unusual noises and knocking from the cockpit and alerted a flight attendant. Her account describes how the alarm was raised; it does not suggest that her daughter recognized or reported an attack.
How the lavatory trip brought Manes near the cockpit
Manes told The Indian Express that her daughter Nina asked her to accompany her to the lavatory. As they headed toward the front of the aircraft, Manes heard sounds from the cockpit that concerned her. She said she alerted a nearby flight attendant and urged the crew member to check.
In a CNN interview, Manes described what she heard: “I mainly heard banging on the door, something you’re not supposed to hear coming from the cockpit, noises, a man’s raised voice.” The Indian Express quoted her warning to the flight attendant as, “Something is happening in there!” and also reported her shouting, “He’s stabbing the pilot, he’s stabbing the pilot, come help!” These are separately attributed accounts, not one continuous quotation.
What happened aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073
On September 30, 2026, FZ1073 was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain. The aircraft diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and landed safely, according to the Associated Press. AP reported that 174 people were aboard.
The Associated Press also reported that the plane descended from 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in about a minute, and that a distress call was made at 8:44 a.m. local time, about two and a half hours after departure. Those figures describe this reported incident; they are not general aviation statistics.
How passengers and crew responded
Accounts summarized by The Indian Express and The Guardian describe several people taking part in the response. Passengers helped subdue the co-pilot, while crew members and off-duty pilots worked to regain control of the aircraft. A dentist treated the injured captain, and Manes helped restrain the suspect with a telephone cord. The reporting does not credit the rescue to one person alone.
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What remains unclear
Who opened the cockpit door
The accounts differ on this detail. Manes said a flight attendant opened the door; Captain Smit Machchhar later said he managed to open it. The Indian Express noted that investigators had not published a settled sequence. The statements may describe different parts of the moment, so the available reporting does not establish one uncontested account.
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The suspect’s motive
The Associated Press reported that the suspect’s motivations were unknown and that the investigation was underway. Speculation about terrorism or suicide in subsequent coverage, including The Guardian’s reporting, is not a final investigative finding. The co-pilot’s actions should therefore be described as an alleged attack, not assigned a confirmed motive.
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Sources
- The Indian Express, updated October 3, 2026: Manes’s account, quoted remarks, and differing descriptions of the cockpit door.
- The Associated Press, October 1, 2026: flight details, reported passenger count, descent, landing, and investigation status.
- The Guardian, October 2, 2026: passenger response and discussion of unresolved motive.
- CNN transcript, October 1, 2026: interview with Tali and Tzvika Manes.
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