Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Indian Captain Fights Off Co-Pilot Attack on Flydubai Flight
A Flydubai plane was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar.
The captain was badly hurt but fought back and opened the cockpit door.
Passengers and crew members then entered the cockpit and stopped the attacker.
The plane reportedly dropped quickly and sent emergency signals.
It landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
All passengers and crew were reported safe.
The flight carried 174 passengers, although some officials used a higher figure that may have included crew members.
Israeli leaders called the event terrorism, but Flydubai said investigators had not yet established the motive.
Machchhar was hospitalized and later reported by Indian officials to be recovering well.
Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed and seriously injured by his co-pilot during Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
The aircraft reportedly entered a sharp descent and transmitted emergency signals before diverting safely to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Machchhar allegedly opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers, crew members and off-duty pilots to overpower the co-pilot.
The flight carried 174 passengers, including 27 children, although some Israeli officials referred to about 180 people aboard.
Israeli officials called the incident a terror attack, while Flydubai said the motive and underlying circumstances remained under formal investigation.
- Who
- Captain Smit Machchhar, the co-pilot, passengers and Flydubai crew members were involved; Israeli and Indian officials praised Machchhar.
- What
- An alleged cockpit knife attack injured Machchhar and was followed by an emergency diversion after passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot.
- When
- The incident occurred on Wednesday, October 1, according to the reports.
- Where
- Flydubai flight FZ1073 was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv before landing at Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The co-pilot allegedly attempted to sabotage the aircraft or crash it; the motive and circumstances remained under investigation.
Terrorism and Sabotage Account
Cautious Investigation Account
Nature of the incident
Terrorism and Sabotage Account
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel Katz, Orli Weitzman and other Israeli officials described the event as a terror attack or attempted sabotage that could have caused a major crash.
Cautious Investigation Account
Flydubai described the event as an in-flight altercation and said its underlying reasons and motives were unknown pending a formal investigation.
Who prevented the disaster
Terrorism and Sabotage Account
Israeli officials credited Machchhar with resisting the attack and opening the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to overpower the alleged attacker.
Cautious Investigation Account
Passenger accounts emphasized the combined efforts of Israeli passengers, Emirati crew members and off-duty pilots who entered the cockpit, subdued the attacker and helped stabilize the aircraft.
Number of people aboard
Terrorism and Sabotage Account
Netanyahu referred to 174 people, while Reuven Azar and Bezalel Smotrich referred to about 180 people or souls.
Cautious Investigation Account
The reported flight figure was 174 passengers, including 27 children, so the larger totals may reflect different estimates or include crew members.
- Flight
- Flydubai flight FZ1073, traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
- Passengers
- 174 passengers, including 27 children; some Israeli officials referred to approximately 180 people aboard.
- Descent
- Flight-tracking analysis showed a descent of more than 17,000 feet from about 34,000 feet in less than two minutes.
- Diversion
- The aircraft landed safely at Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- Captain’s condition
- Machchhar was hospitalized in Tabuk and initially reported stable; an Indian embassy update later said he was recovering well.
- Suspect
- The co-pilot was reported to be an Omani national and was arrested and questioned by Saudi authorities.
- Investigation
- Saudi, Emirati and Israeli authorities were investigating, while Flydubai said the motive remained unknown.
Sources
Indian captain fought off co-pilot who tried to crash plane, Israeli PM hails him as ‘true hero’
"Extraordinary Bravery": Netanyahu "Salutes" Indian Hero Pilot Smit Machchhar
Flydubai incident: Would have been ‘bigger tragedy’ but for Capt Machchhar, says Israel official
Israel Ambassador Azar hails Indian pilot as 'hero against terrorism'; terms attack at the 'heart of the Abraham Accords'
Flydubai incident was ‘terror act’, bigger tragedy averted by Indian pilot Smit Machchhar: Israel official
Israeli PM Hails Indian Pilot Wounded In Diverted Flydubai Flight