Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Flydubai Incident Shows How One Pilot Can Land Boeing 737
A Flydubai airplane had a serious emergency when both pilots could not fly.
The captain had been injured in an alleged stabbing by the co-pilot.
Passengers and crew stopped the attacker.
Two pilots who were traveling off duty entered the cockpit to help.
They stabilized the Boeing 737 and landed it safely in Saudi Arabia.
Commercial airlines normally require two pilots in the cockpit.
One pilot flies the plane while the other watches systems and communicates.
This second pilot is important because emergencies can require many tasks at once.
Earlier Boeing 737 incidents also showed that one pilot can sometimes fly and land the aircraft alone.
Both pilots on a Flydubai flight were incapacitated after the captain was allegedly stabbed by the co-pilot.
Passengers and crew restrained the attacker, while two off-duty pilots entered the cockpit and took control.
The Boeing 737 was safely landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
UAE and United States rules require at least two qualified pilots on commercial flight decks.
Past Boeing 737 emergencies also show that one pilot can sometimes divert and land safely.
- Who
- The Flydubai captain, co-pilot, passengers, crew members, and two off-duty relief pilots were involved.
- What
- Both operating pilots became incapacitated, and the off-duty pilots took control and landed the Boeing 737 safely.
- When
- The article does not provide the date of the Flydubai incident; comparable incidents occurred in 2002 and 2018.
- Where
- The flight was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv and landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The off-duty pilots were aboard as relief crew in case rerouting caused the operating crew to exceed permitted duty hours.
Two-Pilot Operating Rule
Emergency Single-Pilot Capability
Cockpit staffing
Two-Pilot Operating Rule
The UAE’s GCAA and the Federal Aviation Administration require at least two qualified pilots on the flight deck of commercial aircraft, including the Boeing 737.
Emergency Single-Pilot Capability
In an emergency, one qualified pilot may be able to control, divert, and land a Boeing 737, as shown by the Flydubai incident and earlier cases.
Pilot roles
Two-Pilot Operating Rule
Two pilots divide responsibilities: one flies while the other monitors systems, communicates with air traffic control, and cross-checks actions.
Emergency Single-Pilot Capability
If one pilot is incapacitated, the remaining pilot can perform those duties alone when necessary, although the situation is more demanding.
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737
- Airline
- Flydubai
- Landing location
- Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
- Normal cockpit requirement
- At least two qualified pilots for commercial flights
- Emergency assistance
- Two off-duty pilots entered the cockpit and took control
- Captain
- Smit Machchhar
- Comparable incidents
- Boeing 737 emergencies in 2002 and 2018 involved a single pilot taking control at different stages