Since the emergency landing of flydubai flight FZ1073 in Saudi Arabia on September 30, the internet has been flooded with speculation. While official investigations into the co-pilot’s alleged attack are ongoing, many viral theories regarding the flight's technical performance have been clarified by aviation experts. For instance, questions about why oxygen masks failed to deploy have been addressed: masks only drop in the event of a cabin pressure failure, not during a rapid descent. Because the aircraft’s pressurization system remained functional throughout the incident, passengers did not require supplemental oxygen, regardless of the altitude change.

Other rumors, such as the claim that a plumber landed the plane, have been firmly debunked. While Yaniv Hayun, a passenger and plumber, admitted to briefly touching the controls, both he and flydubai confirmed that the professional flight crew ultimately secured and landed the jet. Experts also clarified that the aircraft remained controllable despite visible rudder damage because pilots still had full access to elevators, ailerons, and engine thrust to manage the landing. Finally, regarding the cockpit assault, Captain Smit Machchhar’s account reveals he was caught off guard by a surprise attack from behind, further underscoring that the harrowing descent was a result of a targeted security breach rather than a catastrophic structural failure.