Flydubai hijack bid 'mirrors 9/11,' says Israeli PM's spokesperson
Synopsis
An Omani pilot found wielding a knife or axe in a Flydubai cockpit — while standing over the controls and attacking Indian pilot Smit Machchhar — drew an explicit 9/11 comparison from Israeli PM Netanyahu's spokesperson David Mencer. With elections 27 days away and prior terror warnings on record, Israel is treating this as a near-miss of historic proportions.
Key Takeaways
Israeli PM spokesperson David Mencer said the Flydubai cockpit attack 'could have been very similar to 9/11.' The Omani pilot was found standing over cockpit controls, reportedly attempting to destroy aircraft systems while attacking Indian pilot Smit Machchhar .
Mencer did not rule out links to Hamas , Hezbollah , or Iran , saying investigations are ongoing.
PM Netanyahu had warned of terror threats targeting Israel's election process just two days before the incident.
Israel and the UAE have imposed a six-day freeze on bilateral flights pending a full investigation.
The Omani pilot is being questioned by Saudi authorities and is expected to be transferred to the UAE .
The foiled attempt to bring down a Flydubai flight on Wednesday bore a chilling resemblance to the September 11, 2001 terror attacks in the United States, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesperson David Mencer said on Thursday. Mencer's remarks came after an Omani pilot was found standing over cockpit controls, reportedly trying to destroy the aircraft's systems while physically attacking Indian pilot Smit Machchhar.
What Mencer Said
'That's what it certainly looks like. This could have been very similar to 9/11. There is a detail that may have been missed. When an Israeli passenger and a crew member managed to get into the cockpit, they found that the Omani pilot was not sitting in the pilot's seat. He was standing over the controls and appeared to be trying to sabotage the controls and destroy the aircraft's control systems while attacking the brave Indian pilot. Let's be clear: this man wanted to bring down the aircraft. You cannot help but make the comparison between 9/11 and this attack,' Mencer said in an exclusive interview.
Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran: Links Not Ruled Out
Mencer stopped short of attributing the attack to any specific organisation, but did not rule out involvement by Hamas, Hezbollah, or an Iranian connection. He cautioned that detailed investigations are still ongoing and it is too early to make any definitive declaration. According to Mencer, the Omani pilot is currently being questioned by Saudi authorities and is expected to be transferred to the UAE for a full probe into his associations.
Prior Warning and Security Lapse
Mencer revealed that Netanyahu had issued a public warning just two days before the attack, stating that Iran and 'the terrorist organisations it funds' were attempting to disrupt Israel's election process. 'Just the day before this attack, the Prime Minister was warning the public that we knew there were terrorist threats,' Mencer said, noting that Israel was on heightened alert with elections only 27 days away.
He acknowledged a serious security lapse in the pre-flight screening process. 'Perhaps because he was a pilot, he was not subject to certain checks. But either way, when the Israeli passenger and a crew member entered the cockpit, they found the Omani pilot with some sort of knife or axe in his hands. He was not only attacking the Indian pilot but was also trying to destroy the aircraft's systems. So clearly, there has been a security lapse,' Mencer said.
Six-Day Flight Freeze and How the Crisis Ended
Israel and the UAE have jointly instituted a six-day freeze on flights between the two countries to investigate the incident and rule out follow-up attacks. Mencer described how the crisis was ultimately resolved: Israeli passengers and a crew member wrestled the Omani pilot away from the controls, working alongside the Indian pilot to safely conclude the incident. 'What the Israeli passengers and crew, together with the Indian pilot, did was to wrestle control of the plane back from the Omani pilot and bring the incident to a safe conclusion,' he said.
As investigations continue in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the incident is likely to trigger a sweeping review of cockpit security protocols and crew vetting procedures across Gulf aviation.
Point of View
Calibrated message timed to Israel's election season, with Netanyahu's prior terror warning now serving as retroactive political cover. The more urgent question is how an Omani pilot boarding a commercial flight with a knife or axe bypassed crew security screening entirely, and whether Gulf aviation's vetting of non-Israeli crew on Israel-routed flights is fit for purpose. The six-day bilateral flight freeze is an extraordinary step that signals both governments are treating this as the opening move of a larger threat, not an isolated incident. If an Iranian or Hamas link is confirmed, the geopolitical fallout will extend well beyond aviation protocols.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on the Flydubai flight targeted in the hijack attempt?
An Omani pilot aboard a Flydubai flight on Wednesday was found standing over cockpit controls, reportedly trying to destroy the aircraft's systems while attacking Indian pilot Smit Machchhar with what appeared to be a knife or axe. Israeli passengers and a crew member entered the cockpit and, together with the Indian pilot, wrestled back control and safely concluded the incident.
Why did Israel's spokesperson compare the attack to 9/11?
Spokesperson David Mencer said the attacker was not seated but standing over the controls in what appeared to be a deliberate attempt to bring the aircraft down — mirroring the method used in the September 11, 2001 hijackings. He stressed the attacker's clear intent to destroy the plane's control systems, not merely take over the flight.
Are Hamas, Hezbollah, or Iran suspected in the Flydubai attack?
Mencer did not rule out involvement by Hamas, Hezbollah, or an Iranian connection, but said it is too early to make any declarations as investigations are still ongoing. The Omani pilot is being questioned by Saudi authorities and is expected to be transferred to the UAE for a full probe into his associations.
What is the six-day flight freeze between Israel and the UAE?
Israel and the UAE have jointly suspended flights between the two countries for six days to allow a full investigation into the Flydubai incident and to ensure there are no follow-up attacks. The freeze is an extraordinary bilateral security measure that reflects the severity with which both governments are treating the incident.
What security lapse did Israel's spokesperson acknowledge?
Mencer said the Omani pilot may have been exempt from certain pre-flight security checks because of his professional status as a pilot. He described the failure to detect a knife or axe on his person before boarding as a clear and serious security lapse that will need to be addressed in the investigation.
