IN THIS ROUNDUP
Terror in the Cockpit, Courage in the Cabin
VIA THE TIMES OF ISRAEL
A Flydubai plane carrying 174 passengers, most of them Israeli, departed Dubai International Airport at 7:05 a.m. bound for Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport before the flight turned into a terrifying midair ordeal. According to accounts of the incident, the Omani co-pilot attacked the Indian captain in an apparent attempt to seize control of the aircraft and crash it.
The pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar, a veteran with 13 years of flying experience, was seriously wounded in the assault suffering multiple stab injuries to his head and hands. Despite his injuries and heavy blood loss, Machchhar managed to fight back and, in what passengers and Israeli officials described as an extraordinary act of courage, open the cockpit door from inside.
“At that moment, some of the passengers who realized something was happening raced forward and entered the pilot’s cabin,” said Doron Spielman, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesperson. “They saw the injured pilot on the ground, and the other… attacking pilot was standing over the control panel, bashing the control panel.”
The situation quickly became critical. During the attack, the aircraft reportedly plunged approximately 17,000 feet in less than a minute. Among the passengers who entered the cockpit was Yaniv Hayun, one of three Israeli passengers who helped overpower the attacker. Hayun recounted how he pulled the assailant away from the controls and helped stabilize the aircraft as it nosedived.
It took approximately 20 to 25 minutes to fully subdue the attacker. In a remarkable display of courage and quick thinking, three Israeli passengers used their headphone cords to restrain and tie him up preventing him from regaining control of the aircraft.
At the same time, an Israeli medical professional on board treated the critically injured captain. Dr. Shota Musayev said he immediately ran toward the cockpit after hearing screams. “When I heard screaming, after 10 seconds I ran, I didn’t wait,” Musayev said. “When I came into the cockpit, the pilot was in real bad shape, with heavy bleeding, particularly from his head.”
The passengers’ ordeal finally came to an end when the plane landed safely at Ben Gurion Airport following an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Footage filmed by an Israeli passenger captured travelers cheering and singing as they arrived home, a striking contrast to the terror they had experienced just hours earlier.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met the passengers at the airport and paid tribute to the Indian captain, describing his actions as heroic. “My salute to the Indian pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar, for his extraordinary bravery,” Netanyahu said. “Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker, preventing a catastrophic midair disaster.”
“He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals,” Netanyahu added. “I wish Captain Machchhar a speedy and full recovery. He is a true hero.”
Praise God for the extraordinary and miraculous chain of events that unfolded in a moment of unimaginable peril, ultimately preserving the lives of all 174 people aboard the aircraft. Please join us in lifting captain Machchhar in prayer, asking God to bring complete healing, renew his strength, and sustain him with His grace and peace in the days ahead.
Israel Ranks Second among Global Cyberattack Targets
The cyber threat landscape is increasingly global and Israel is firmly in the crosshairs. Microsoft’s annual Digital Defense Report, highlighted at a recent cyber threats conference, found that Israel was the world’s second-most targeted country for cyberattacks in the first half of 2026 behind only the United States. Ukraine and Taiwan followed in third and fourth place respectively.
According to the data, Israel is the primary target of cyberattacks originating from Iran, followed by the United States and the United Arab Emirates. Iran’s main objectives include wiping data, disrupting operational technologies, and gaining access to systems for espionage and to prepare for future disruptions.
Within Israel, the intelligence and business sectors are among the primary targets. Research and academic institutions account for 28% of attacks, followed by information technology at 12%, transportation at 11%, government bodies at 8%, and research institutes and nongovernmental organizations at 8%.
Iranian attackers typically gain initial access by exploiting known security vulnerabilities, weak authentication, and systems exposed to the internet. Their primary tactics include credential theft and phishing while cloud infrastructure can be leveraged to maintain persistent access and remain inside targeted systems until an opportunity to act arises.
“The fact that Israel maintains operational continuity under this scale of threats should not be taken for granted,” National Cyber Directorate Chief Brigadier General Yossi Karadi commented on the Microsoft report. “It is the result of an integrated national defense system in which the National Cyber Directorate operates together with the security agencies, government ministries, the economy, the cyber industry and global companies.”
“In cyber,” Karadi continued, “you may not see missiles in the air, but there is no ceasefire. The campaign is conducted 24/7, and the defense must also operate continuously, with the understanding that there is no such thing as absolute resilience.”
lease pray for God’s protection over Israel’s intelligence and defense systems, and for the wisdom, skill, and vigilance needed to thwart cyberattacks against Israel’s military, business, and civilian infrastructure.
October 7 and Beyond: Remembering the Fallen
As the anniversary of October 7 approaches, many families continue to grapple with profound loss. Since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, the Defense Ministry reports that 1,318 members of Israel’s security forces have been killed in battle. This number represents the full spectrum of Israel’s security services including the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israel Police, Shin Bet (Israel’s Security Agency), Fire and Rescue Services, security coordinators, and local response squads.
The human toll of the war extends across Israel’s many fronts from the Gaza Strip to Lebanon and the West Bank. More than 7,150 people have been officially recognized as bereaved family members including parents who have lost children, widows and widowers, siblings, and orphans. Among them are 3,772 people who have lost a brother or sister, a loss that has reshaped families and left a lasting mark on communities across Israel.
Although a ceasefire went into effect in the Gaza Strip on October 10, 2025, Israeli soldiers have continued to be killed. Some of the incidents have taken place near the Yellow Line, a boundary established by the ceasefire agreement to separate areas controlled by Israeli forces from the rest of the Gaza Strip. Just last week, two IDF soldiers were killed when a drone they were operating crashed and exploded at their military outpost in northern Gaza.
Please pray for all those grieving the loss of a loved one who gave his or her life courageously in defense of the State of Israel. May God comfort these families in their grief, strengthen them in the days ahead, and surround them with His peace and presence.
In Ramat Gan, Our Staff Shares the Hope of Messiah During Sukkot
As the Jewish High Holidays come to an end, we wanted to share with you a beautiful report of celebration and thanksgiving, food and fellowship. Throughout the seven days of Sukkot, one of our staff members in Israel opened the doors of the family home night after night, welcoming guests to celebrate the Jewish Feast of Booths which commemorates the time when the Israelites lived in temporary shelters during their journey through the wilderness.
The staff member welcomed young and old, Israelis and people from the nations, new believers, and mature believers alike. Night after night, people came through the doors to celebrate Sukkot together on the rooftop, beneath the stars, and in a sukkah, the temporary shelter built for the festival. In Jewish tradition, the sukkah serves as a reminder of God’s presence, protection, and provision as He faithfully cared for the Israelites in the wilderness.
“On the first night, all twenty seats were filled with friends and family, believers and not-yet-believers, young and not so young,” one Israeli staff member reported. “We read from Nehemiah 8:13-18 and Zechariah 14:16-19 to better understand the significance of celebrating Sukkot, not only for our people today, but also for the future, when we believe all nations will come to worship Messiah Yeshua.”
The evening was filled with meaningful fellowship and conversation. “We had wonderful conversations around the table, including deep and meaningful discussions about Yeshua (Jesus),” the staff member continued.
On subsequent nights, specific groups from the Ramat Gan community were invited to gather in the sukkah. One evening, the ladies who regularly attend the Bible studies and brunches were invited, and around thirty women came, including a couple of new believers.
“Hearing the testimony of one of these new believers was incredible!” the staff member shared. “We also had a short devotion about God dwelling amid His people in the Tabernacle in the wilderness, while the Israelites, our ancestors, lived in these ‘sukkot,’ or booths and temporary shelters. We reflected on how Yeshua came and dwelt among us here in this very Land.”
On another night, about thirty young adults gathered on the rooftop for a barbecue. The group included believers, new believers, and not-yet-believers. Many wonderful stories and testimonies were shared, along with deep and meaningful conversations.
It was a beautiful picture of fellowship, gratitude, and joyful remembrance of God’s faithfulness and provision, as people gathered under the stars to celebrate the Lord and His goodness. Reflecting on the week, the Israeli staff member expressed gratitude: “We are so grateful to the Lord for the opportunity to have hosted over 100 people in our sukkah over the whole week of Sukkot!”
Please be in prayer for the staff of Chosen People Ministries in Israel who are actively involved in the lives of so many people through evangelism, conversations, prayer, Bible studies, encouragement, serving, and sharing the Messiah’s love. May the Lord use their lives and ministry to draw many people to Himself, and may many come to know and believe that Jesus is the Messiah!
Go Deeper
Explore topics like the Jewish history, the biblical feasts and festivals, the biblical basis for Jewish evangelism, the role of Israel in God’s redemptive plan, and more.
Teva HQ, Ramat HaHayal. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons/David Shay)