Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Passenger's Son Praises Indian Pilot After flydubai Cockpit Attack
A flydubai plane was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
More than 170 people were on board.
The co-pilot reportedly tried to make the plane crash.
Captain Smit Machchhar fought him and was hurt.
He opened the cockpit door so passengers and crew could help.
Two other pilots then took control of the plane.
The aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
A passenger’s son thanked the Indian captain for saving lives.
Ofir Speigel thanked Captain Smit Machchhar for protecting passengers aboard a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight.
The co-pilot allegedly tried to sabotage and crash the Boeing 737 carrying more than 170 passengers.
Machchhar fought the co-pilot, was stabbed, and opened the cockpit door so others could intervene.
Passengers and crew members overpowered the attacker, while two relief pilots took control of the aircraft.
The plane landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; the pilots were hospitalized and passengers received treatment.
- Who
- Captain Smit Machchhar, the co-pilot, two relief pilots, passengers, and crew members were involved; Ofir Speigel spoke on behalf of his mother.
- What
- A co-pilot allegedly attempted to sabotage and crash a flydubai aircraft, but was stopped before the plane landed safely.
- When
- The incident occurred on Wednesday; no specific date is provided.
- Where
- The flight was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv and diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The co-pilot allegedly attempted to sabotage and crash the aircraft; the articles do not state his motive.
- Airline
- flydubai
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737
- Passengers
- More than 170 people were aboard
- Captain
- Smit Machchhar, an Indian citizen
- Emergency altitude
- The aircraft dropped from about 34,000 feet to approximately 15,600 feet, at one point descending about 23,000 feet per minute
- Diversion
- The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
- Passenger response
- Ofir Speigel praised Machchhar and thanked India for his actions