Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Conflicting Reports Over Weapon in Flydubai Pilot Attack
An incident happened on Flydubai flight FZ1073.
Captain Smit Machchhar was attacked inside the cockpit by a colleague reportedly identified as an Omani co-pilot.
Reports say Machchhar was hurt while helping save passengers during an alleged attempt to crash the plane.
Some passengers said they saw the attacker holding a knife.
Other accounts say an emergency crash axe may have been used.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said an axe might have been the weapon.
Reuters said it could not determine which weapon was used.
Flydubai and Saudi authorities have not officially confirmed the weapon.
Captain Smit Machchhar was attacked inside the cockpit of Flydubai flight FZ1073.
Reports differ over whether the weapon was a knife or the aircraft’s emergency crash axe.
Passengers reportedly saw an attacker holding a knife while a pilot lay bloodied.
Sources told Times Now that an Omani co-pilot may have used the crash axe.
Flydubai and Saudi authorities have not officially confirmed the weapon used.
- Who
- Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar was reportedly attacked by a colleague described in reports as an Omani co-pilot.
- What
- An attack occurred in the cockpit, with conflicting reports identifying a knife or the aircraft’s emergency crash axe as the weapon.
- When
- The incident was reported as occurring on Wednesday, September 30; the year is not specified.
- Where
- Inside the cockpit of Flydubai flight FZ1073.
- Why
- The attack was described as part of an alleged attempt to crash the aircraft; a motive was not specified.
Crash Axe Account
Knife Account
Reported weapon
Crash Axe Account
Sources familiar with the matter told Times Now that the Omani co-pilot may have used the aircraft’s crash axe. Benjamin Netanyahu also said Machchhar might have been attacked with an axe.
Knife Account
Passengers reportedly saw the attacker holding a knife, and Reuters reported that pilots could potentially access metal knives used for meal service.
Certainty of the evidence
Crash Axe Account
The crash axe account was cited by sources familiar with the matter and by the Israeli prime minister.
Knife Account
Reuters said it could not determine the weapon, and official confirmation from Flydubai or Saudi authorities was not available.
- Flight
- Flydubai flight FZ1073
- Reported victim
- Indian-origin Captain Smit Machchhar
- Reported attacker
- A colleague described as an Omani co-pilot
- Conflicting weapons
- A knife or the aircraft’s emergency crash axe
- Passenger account
- Passengers reportedly saw a man holding a knife while a pilot lay bloodied
- Source uncertainty
- Reuters said it could not determine which weapon was used
- Official status
- Flydubai and Saudi authorities have not confirmed the weapon
