Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Flydubai Captain Recovers After Alleged Cockpit Attack
Captain Smit Machchhar was hurt during an alleged attack by his co-pilot on a Flydubai plane.
The reports say the plane was carrying 170 passengers.
Machchhar suffered a skull fracture and injuries to his head and hand.
He said his vision became very blurry and that he remembers parts of what happened.
He is now being treated in a hospital in the United Arab Emirates.
Reports say he has started walking a little and eating some food.
Doctors are checking his brain and keeping a close watch on him.
Sources say investigators are looking into whether the co-pilot had planned to crash the plane.
Captain Smit Machchhar suffered a skull fracture and injuries to his head and hand in an alleged attack by his co-pilot.
Machchhar told Benjamin Netanyahu that his vision was blurred during the assault and that he remembers the incident only in fragments.
He is recovering in a UAE hospital after receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia, but reportedly continues to have severe headaches and is undergoing neurological assessments.
A report cited by Reuters says the co-pilot told UAE investigators he had planned an attack before joining Flydubai.
Sources cited in the reports allege the co-pilot had considered crashing an earlier Tel Aviv-bound flight and intended to crash the September 30 flight near Tel Aviv.
- Who
- Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar and his Omani co-pilot; the flight was carrying 170 passengers.
- What
- Machchhar was injured in an alleged cockpit attack, while reports say investigators are examining claims that the co-pilot planned to crash the aircraft.
- When
- The incident was reported as occurring on September 30; no year is specified in the article.
- Where
- The flight was reportedly intended to reach Ben-Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. Machchhar was later treated in Saudi Arabia and transferred to a hospital in Abu Dhabi.
- Why
- The co-pilot's alleged motive is not established; sources cited in the reports say he may have intended to crash the flight.
- Passengers aboard
- 170, according to the article
- Captain
- Smit Machchhar
- Reported injuries
- Skull fracture and injuries to his head and hand; he also reported blurred vision and fragmented memories.
- Current care
- Hospital treatment in the UAE, with neurological assessments and close observation reported.
- Treatment route
- The article says Machchhar was treated in Saudi Arabia before being flown to a hospital in Abu Dhabi.
- Alleged earlier plan
- A source briefed on the UAE investigation said the co-pilot had considered hijacking and crashing an earlier Tel Aviv-bound flight.
- Attribution
- The reports attribute claims about the co-pilot's plans to sources familiar with or briefed on the investigations; they are allegations, not established findings in the article.