'Prepared ourselves for the worst': FlyDubai passenger recounts moments during cockpit attack

Anya Zoledziowski · CBC News

· Posted: Oct 02, 2026 8:57 AM EDT | Last Updated: 14 minutes ago

Almog Italie and his family were on the final leg of their trip home following a vacation in Japan when they felt FlyDubai flight FZ1073 plummet.

"Suddenly we were moving like a roller-coaster without any notice ... I thought it was turbulence," Italie said, adding that after several seconds, the plane stabilized before it started diving again.

He quickly realized something was amiss. 

"We understood something is wrong and something is going on in the cockpit, because that wasn't normal at all," he told CBC News. 

WATCH | The FlyDubai flight survived against impossible odds. Here's how:

Italie was one of 174 people on board the plane earlier this week when one of the pilots stabbed the other in an attempt to crash the plane. The flight plunged 30,000 feet in under 30 seconds. 

"It was very fast," Italie said of the situation.

He recounted how crew and passengers ran to the cockpit to foil the attempt.

A spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu latered reveal how the stabbed pilot, Indian national Smit Machchhar, was covered with blood and on the floor when he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing others to rush in, subdue the perpetrator and let a second pair of FlyDubai pilots take over the flight. 

• 'I was fighting for my life': Indian pilot hailed as hero recalls FlyDubai cockpit attack

Those involved resurfaced several minutes later to update the other passengers and confirm that they were looking for a safe place to land.

"So, what needed to be done was to maintain calm, stay in the seats and do nothing else that would cause chaos," Italie said. "And this is exactly what saved our lives. Nobody panicked and we controlled the situation."

"We didn't know how the landing was going to go, so we prepared ourselves for the worst," he added. 

Ultimately, the plane landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where Italie said authorities warmly welcomed passengers and crew, even providing food. 

"They were very, very nice," Italie said. "Much appreciated."

'Unity' saved everyone's life: passenger

Hours later, passengers were on board a different flight and made it to Tel Aviv. But passengers continue to recount those terrifying minutes. 

"I just can say that it was a miracle. It was awful, crazy, and we thank God that we survived it. We didn't think we will make it, but thank God we are in Israel. We are back home. And we are happy to see everyone here," said another passenger, Lital Shachaf.

For Italie, the "unity" on board saved everyone's life. 

• Passengers foil bid to crash Dubai-Tel Aviv flight after co-pilot stabbed pilot, Israel says

Yaniv Hayun, 50, was one of four passengers who rushed to the cockpit during the chaos to overpower the unidentified co-pilot behind the attack. He said he learned what to do thanks to an aircrash television show. Another, a dentist, treated Machchhar's wounds.

"The people united. We helped each other," Italie said. "That's a message I want to share."

WATCH | U.A.E. opens investigation into foiled FlyDubai flight cockpit attack: