The passengers of Flydubai Flight FZ1073 got home safely after a terrifying September 30 flight. But some said they did not feel safe or settled afterward. On October 28, survivors told The Times of Israel that they were still struggling with fear, sleep problems and the return to ordinary life. They said they had not received the government help they expected.

What passengers said after coming home

Passenger Daniel Schlichter said people who were on the flight had stayed in contact with each other. Some had trouble returning to school or work. He said the public welcome when they reached Israel did not lead to the follow-up care they needed. He and his wife were also struggling to process their experience.

Another passenger, Almog Italie, was traveling with his wife and their two teenage children. He told the newspaper that the lasting fear and emotional effects needed attention. The passengers were describing their own experiences, not giving a diagnosis for everyone on the plane.

Why official help was delayed

The flight was heading from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the first officer allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with an emergency axe. Passengers and crew intervened, and two pilots traveling aboard landed the aircraft in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. No one aboard died, but the captain was seriously hurt and passengers described lasting distress.

According to the October 28 reporting, Israel’s National Insurance Institute said it could not handle certain claims until the Defense Ministry formally recognized the incident as a hostile act. The Defense Ministry was still waiting for information from investigators. The passengers were caught between agencies while they waited.

Some survivors paid for private counseling. Others were exploring legal action over airline safety and the government’s response. Reporting about a group considering a lawsuit did not establish that a court had accepted a class action, and it did not prove any party’s legal liability.

What changed after this report

November 9, 2026: Israel’s Defense Ministry recognized the incident as a hostile act for the purpose of affected passengers seeking assistance. The decision was passed to the National Insurance Institute. People reporting physical or psychological harm could then apply for an individual assessment. Assistance and payment are not automatic.

Read our November 9 follow-up and what recognition means.

Why It Matters

A safe landing was not the end of the story for everyone aboard. The people who survived also need to be heard when they explain how the incident affected them. The gap between the flight and the November 9 decision matters because it shows how slow official assistance can become when agencies are waiting for one another.

What Happens Next

Survivors may submit their claims through the Israeli system. The amount and kind of assistance depend on individual reviews. We will not report a payout, a filed lawsuit or a court finding until we can verify the relevant record. The UAE prosecution and aviation safety questions remain separate.