--- title: "Flydubai co-pilot stabbed captain, plane plunged 14,000 feet" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/flydubai-co-pilot-stabbed-captain-plane-plunged-14000-feet" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/flydubai-co-pilot-stabbed-captain-plane-plunged-14000-feet" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/flydubai-co-pilot-stabbed-captain-plane-plunged-14000-feet.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/flydubai-co-pilot-stabbed-captain-plane-plunged-14000-feet" category: "Conflict & Security" area: "Middle East" published: "2026-10-02T02:25:16.971Z" source_reported: "2026-10-02T01:37:41.000Z" updated: "2026-10-02T02:25:16.971Z" trust_score: 68 critic_score: 85 hype_score: 38 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-02T02:15:11.990108+00:00" --- # Flydubai co-pilot stabbed captain, plane plunged 14,000 feet *Passengers and crew restrained attacker; Israeli PM claims radical indoctrination* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 68 of 100, higher is better. Trust 68: multiple independent outlets name Netanyahu and give flight details, but no primary documents cited. - Craft 85 of 100, higher is better. Critic 85: explains incident’s relevance, separates facts, provides specific figures and next steps, written clearly. - Hype 38 of 100, lower is better. Hype 38: language is strong but reflects quoted statements, not exaggerated clickbait. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Flydubai flight FZ1073, with 174 passengers, descended approximately 14,000 feet after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain. - Passengers and crew members restrained the co-pilot, and another pilot regained control of the aircraft, enabling a safe landing. - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the Omani co-pilot had undergone Islamist radical indoctrination and passed through a screening loophole. - The UAE chief prosecutor announced an investigation into the incident, including the possibility of terrorist activity. Flydubai flight FZ1073, en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 passengers, experienced a severe descent of about 14,000 feet after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain. Passengers and crew members aboard the Boeing 737 MAX 8 managed to restrain the co-pilot. A second pilot then regained control of the aircraft, allowing it to land safely. The incident prompted investigations by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, with the UAE chief prosecutor examining the possibility of terrorist activity. ## Disagreements on the incident Reports differ on the altitude lost and the speed of the descent. Hindustan Times stated the plane plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds. Channel News Asia reported a loss of around 17,000 feet in the span of a minute. Lanka News Web, citing the BBC, reported a plunge of more than 17,000ft (5,200m) two hours into the journey. ## What the coverage left out None of the centre or right-rated reports mention the specific figure of 174 passengers that Hindustan Times and Channel News Asia reported. The full reports from Hindustan Times and Channel News Asia do not mention the co-pilot's nationality as Omani, which is stated in the digests from yalibnan.com and Breitbart. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 67% (4) - Right: 33% (2) 5 of 11 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-02T02:15:11.990108+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-02T02:30:24.559Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports led with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claims about the co-pilot's alleged radicalisation and the screening process. Hindustan Times and Channel News Asia both highlighted Netanyahu's statement that the Omani co-pilot had undergone "Islamist radical indoctrination" and that a "loophole" in screening had allowed him to fly to Israel. Channel News Asia also noted the UAE's investigation into a possible terror link and quoted Netanyahu saying the attacker called out "Kill me, kill me," indicating he was suicidal. Worthy Christian News focused on Netanyahu describing the rescue as a "chain of miracles with divine assistance" while investigators probed evidence of radicalisation. ### Right - Right-rated reports from Breitbart and i24NEWS focused on Netanyahu's assertion that the Omani co-pilot had "undergone Islamist radical indoctrination" and that investigators were probing whether he acted alone or received outside direction. i24NEWS also reported that the co-pilot's social media publications indicated he had radicalised and embraced a jihadist ideology, and that he evoked the murder of Jews online. Breitbart noted the co-pilot was Omani and that Netanyahu claimed a screening loophole allowed him to fly to Israel. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 2 - high: 1 - unknown: 6 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Lanka News Web (LNW)](https://lankanewsweb.net/archives/277623/netanyahu-says-flydubai-attacker-had-islamist-radical-indoctrination) — Netanyahu says Flydubai attacker had 'Islamist radical indoctrination' - LNW Lanka News Web - [yalibnan.com](https://yalibnan.com/2026/10/02/netanyahu-omani-co-pilot-of-flydubai-went-through-islamic-radicalization) — Netanyahu: Omani co-pilot of FlyDubai went through Islamic radicalization – Ya Libnan - [Worthy Christian News](https://worthynews.com/117932-netanyahu-calls-flydubai-rescue-a-chain-of-miracles-with-divine-assistance) — Netanyahu Calls Flydubai Rescue A ‘Chain Of Miracles With Divine Assistance’ - [FNN.jpプライムオンライン](https://fnn.jp/articles/-/1125200) — Israel-Bound Passenger Plane Nearly Crashes; Co-Pilot Allegedly Mentions "Killing of Jews" on Social Media - [Breitbart](https://breitbart.com/politics/2026/10/01/netanyahu-omani-co%e2%80%91pilot-who-tried-to-down-flydubai-jet-underwent-islamist-radical-indoctrination) — Netanyahu: Omani Co‑Pilot Who Tried to Down Flydubai Jet ‘Underwent Islamist Radical Indoctrination’ - [i24NEWS](https://i24news.tv/fr/actu/international/moyen-orient/artc-vol-flydubai-le-copilote-omanais-evoquait-le-meurtre-de-juifs-sur-les-reseaux-sociaux) — Flight Flydubai: Omani Co-Pilot Evoked Murder of Jews on Social Media - [Hindustan Times](https://hindustantimes.com/world-news/netanyahu-omani-flydubai-co-pilot-underwent-islamist-radical-indoctrination-claims-screening-loophole-let-him-fly-to-israel-101790860034576.html) — Netanyahu says Omani flydubai co-pilot underwent ‘Islamist radical indoctrination’; claims screening ‘loophole’ let him fly to Israel - [senenews.com](https://senenews.com/actualites/international/vol-flydubai-netanyahu-affirme-que-le-copilote-a-subi-un-endoctrinement-islamiste-radical_601483.html) — « Radical Islamist Indoctrination »: Netanyahu on the Assailant of Flydubai Flight - [zdfheute.de](https://zdfheute.de/panorama/flug-flydubai-israel-motiv-ursachen-experte-100.html) — Expert on the Flydubai Rescue: "A Pretty Miracle" - [France24](https://france24.com/en/live-news/20261001-uae-probes-possible-terror-incident-on-flight-to-israel) — Netanyahu says flydubai co-pilot indoctrinated as UAE probes 'terror' link - [Channel News Asia](https://channelnewsasia.com/world/uae-probes-israel-flydubai-flight-possible-terror-link-6423726) — Netanyahu says flydubai co-pilot indoctrinated as UAE probes 'terror' link ## Questions **What happened on the Flydubai flight?** On Flydubai flight FZ1073, the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain, causing the plane to descend about 14,000 feet. Passengers and crew restrained the co-pilot, and another pilot regained control to land the aircraft safely. **What did Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu say about the incident?** Netanyahu claimed the Omani co-pilot had undergone Islamist radical indoctrination and passed through a screening loophole that allowed him to fly to Israel. He also suggested the attacker was suicidal and called the rescue a 'chain of miracles'. **What actions were taken after the incident?** The UAE chief prosecutor announced an investigation into the incident, including the possibility of terrorist activity. Saudi Arabia transferred the co-pilot to the UAE. Passengers and crew were praised for their actions in restraining the co-pilot and regaining control of the plane. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/conflict/flydubai-co-pilot-stabbed-captain-plane-plunged-14000-feet. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Flydubai co-pilot stabbed captain, plane plunged 14,000 feet", https://mediabias.news/conflict/flydubai-co-pilot-stabbed-captain-plane-plunged-14000-feet