Harger: Twenty-seven kids on a diving Flydubai 737 MAX got home safe. Thank a Boeing worker in Renton - MyNorthwest.com

A Washington-area aviation analyst, speaking with MyNorthwest.com, said 27 children on a Flydubai 737 MAX flight (FZ1073) returned safely after a cockpit stabbing and a steep dive. The report recounts testimony from aviation analyst John Nance, who argued that calling such events “hero” can be misleading, though he suggested this case may fit. Officials say the co-pilot stabbed the captain, identified as Smit Machchhar, and attempted to crash the aircraft, which reportedly fell 14,000–17,000 feet in under a minute. Nance said passengers likely gained access through an internal cockpit unlock. Crew and off-duty pilots in the back reportedly helped land the plane in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, while Nance highlighted that 737s are built in Renton and, since summer, also in Everett.