Flydubai Passengers Prepare Lawsuits Over September 30 Attack

Nearly 100 passengers aboard a Flydubai flight that survived an alleged midair hijacking attempt are preparing legal action against the airline and government authorities, seeking substantial compensation for the September 30, 2026, incident between Dubai and Tel Aviv. According to reports published by Calcalist and other news outlets on October 11, the passengers are organizing claims that could involve Israel, the United Arab Emirates and other countries.

Of the 174 passengers aboard flight FZ1073, approximately 100 have signed powers of attorney authorizing a passenger committee to coordinate their claims, Calcalist reported. The remaining passengers have not decided whether to join the collective effort or pursue compensation individually.

The proposed legal action could seek hundreds of millions of dollars, although the final amount and the number of claimants remain unsettled. Hebrew-language media reports cited by The Indian Express and News18 estimated potential compensation of $200,000 to $250,000 per passenger. If all 174 passengers received $250,000 each, the total would reach $43.5 million, excluding legal fees and other expenses.

Tzvika Manes, chief executive of Barak Leumi, Bank Leumi's underwriting arm, is leading the committee. Manes was among the passengers who helped restrain the co-pilot during the attack. Other members include Singapore-based lawyer Tal Eisenberg and fellow passengers Daniel Schlichter, Itay Perlman and Shir Maor.

According to Calcalist, the initiative began in a WhatsApp group formed as the aircraft landed at Ben Gurion Airport. Around 70 participants asked Manes and other passengers to coordinate the effort. The committee has met with Israeli law firms and plans to consult international firms before selecting legal representatives.

Potential defendants include Flydubai, Israel's Transportation Ministry and possibly the UAE ministry responsible for transportation, according to the reports. Authorities in other countries could also face claims because some passengers were foreign nationals. The committee plans to present preliminary findings and recommendations to passengers before deciding on the next steps.

The legal effort raises questions about aviation oversight and the responsibilities of airlines and government agencies following an attack allegedly initiated by a member of the flight crew. The passengers' preliminary review with legal advisers identified provisions in the Abraham Accords, the 2020 agreements establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE, that address aviation arrangements between the two countries.

News18 also reported that passengers could consider claims under the Montreal Convention, an international treaty governing airline liability for passenger injury and other harm during air travel. Israel and the UAE are parties to the convention, although the applicable legal grounds and potential defendants will depend on the claims ultimately filed.

The incident occurred aboard a flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to Calcalist, passenger Tali Manes heard shouting from the cockpit and alerted other Israeli passengers, who discovered the co-pilot attacking Captain Smit Machchhar as the aircraft plunged toward the ground.

Passenger Yaniv Hayun helped stabilize the aircraft while other passengers restrained the co-pilot and assisted the injured captain. Another pilot traveling as a passenger subsequently landed the aircraft in Saudi Arabia, after which the passengers returned to Israel.

United Arab Emirates authorities are continuing to investigate the incident. News18 reported that the UAE attorney-general's public statement did not appear to implicate Flydubai in wrongdoing, while Israel's Transportation Ministry has faced scrutiny over its role in civil aviation oversight. The proposed lawsuits remain in preparation, with legal representation yet to be finalized.