Indian Pilot Smit Machchhar Injured After Co-Pilot Attack Mid-Air, Flydubai Flight Makes Emergency Landing
Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Mumbai, 1st October 2026: An Indian pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar, was injured after he was allegedly attacked and stabbed by his co-pilot during a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, September 30. The incident triggered a mid-air emergency and led to the aircraft making an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Flydubai Flight FZ1073 was carrying 174 passengers when the incident occurred while the Boeing 737 was en route to Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. According to Israeli officials and reports from the incident, the co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Machchhar and attempted to interfere with the aircraft’s controls. The exact circumstances remain under investigation.
During the struggle, the aircraft reportedly descended nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds, prompting an emergency situation on board. Despite being injured, Captain Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers, crew members and off-duty pilots to enter and help restrain the alleged attacker.
The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Tabuk Airport in north-western Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Captain Machchhar was taken to a hospital and was reported to be in stable condition. The co-pilot, an Omani national, was arrested by Saudi authorities and is being questioned as part of the investigation.
Who Is Captain Smit Machchhar?
Captain Machchhar is an Indian pilot with extensive experience flying Boeing 737 aircraft. Reports state that he has accumulated more than 9,750 flying hours and previously worked with SpiceJet before joining flydubai in 2022.
He trained in New Zealand and had initially considered joining his family’s textile business before pursuing a career in aviation. Machchhar’s actions during Wednesday’s incident have since drawn praise from Indian and Israeli leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have publicly commended his role during the emergency.
Following the incident, flydubai suspended flights to and from Israel while authorities continued investigating the cockpit attack. Passengers were later transported onward after the emergency landing.
The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack, the co-pilot’s actions and how control of the aircraft was ultimately restored.
