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The proposed lawsuit seeks hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation over the horrific incident, during which the Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the Indian captain.
Passengers board a flydubai flight, bound for Dubai, before taking off from Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on September 30, 2026. (AFP photo)
The passengers of the Tel Aviv-bound Flydubai flight 1073 that faced a mid-air emergency on September 30 are reportedly planning a massive class action suit against the airline as well as the transportation ministries of Israel and the United Arab Emirates, according to a report in Israeli news outlet Calcalist.
The proposed lawsuit seeks hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation over the horrific incident, during which the Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit in an attempt to crash the aircraft. However, the hero pilot, assisted by several Israeli passengers, managed to stop the attack.
Flydubai Flyers Join Legal Initiative
Around 100 of the flight’s 174 passengers have joined the legal initiative and formed a committee to coordinate proceedings. The committee will be headed by Tzvika Manes, one of the passengers who helped restrain the attacker and the chief executive of Bank Leumi’s underwriting arm, Barak Leumi, Calcalist reported.
Other committee members include Israeli lawyer Tal Eisenberg, who is based in Singapore, along with Daniel Schlichter, Itay Perlman and Shir Maor. The group reportedly began coordinating through a WhatsApp chat before passengers had even disembarked from the aircraft.
The committee intends to appoint legal representatives and is considering extending the action to other governments, depending on the nationalities of the passengers involved. Those who have not joined the collective effort could still participate later or file individual claims.
Israel’s Transportation Ministry Faces Scrutiny After Flydubai Incident
At A Glance
Flydubai flight 1073 passengers are planning a class action suit against the airline and transportation ministries.
Around 100 of the flight’s 174 passengers have joined the legal initiative.
The committee will be headed by Tzvika Manes, chief executive of Bank Leumi’s underwriting arm.
Legal experts estimate passengers could receive between $200,000 and $250,000 each.
If all 174 passengers received the maximum, the total payout would reach $43.5 million.
The incident has also intensified scrutiny of Israel’s Transportation Ministry, which oversees civil aviation safety and foreign airline operations. The investigation remains ongoing. On Saturday, passenger Asaf Rajuan, who helped stop the attack, spoke about his suspicions regarding members of the flight crew, although investigators do not believe they were involved.
Legal experts cited by Hebrew-language media have estimated that passengers could receive between $200,000 and $250,000 each. If all 174 passengers received the maximum estimated compensation, the total payout would reach $43.5 million, excluding legal fees and other expenses.
Passengers could pursue compensation under the Montreal Convention, an international treaty governing airline liability for passenger injury and other harm during air travel. Both Israel and the UAE are parties to the convention. The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020 to establish diplomatic ties between Israel and the UAE, also include provisions related to aviation safety.
Quick Answers
Ask News18Around 100 passengers of the September 30 Tel Aviv-bound Flydubai flight are planning a class-action lawsuit seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation. Legal experts estimate individual payouts could range between $200,000 and $250,000, potentially totaling up to $43.5 million.
Ask News18About the Author
Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers politics and a wide range of hard news, with a keen interest in national and international d…Read More
October 11, 2026, 9:41 PM IST
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