Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Israel Praises Passengers and Crew After Flydubai Cockpit Attack
A flydubai plane was in danger after its co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain in the cockpit.
The captain, Smit Machchhar, fought back and opened the cockpit door.
Israeli passengers went in and helped stop the attacker.
Two off-duty pilots helped keep the plane steady.
The plane landed safely, and Machchhar was taken to hospital.
He is reported to be out of danger.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry praised the people from Israel, India and the UAE who helped.
Authorities are examining how the co-pilot was allowed to work and fly to Tel Aviv.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry praised Israeli passengers, an Indian pilot and Emirati crew members after an alleged attempt to take control of a flydubai flight.
The article says Omani national Hamam al-Hammami attacked captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe in the cockpit.
Machchhar reportedly opened the cockpit door as the aircraft lost altitude, allowing passengers to subdue the attacker.
Two off-duty pilots helped steady the plane, which landed safely; Machchhar was hospitalized and is reported out of danger.
The incident prompted questions about the co-pilot’s background and how he was cleared to fly to Israel.
- Who
- Captain Smit Machchhar, Omani national Hamam al-Hammami, Israeli passengers, Emirati crew and two off-duty pilots.
- What
- An alleged cockpit attack aboard a flydubai flight was stopped, and the plane landed safely.
- When
- The article does not give the date of the flight; it says the UAE hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu days before the incident.
- Where
- On a flydubai flight to Tel Aviv.
- Why
- The article says the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain; the motive is not established.
- Airline
- flydubai
- People aboard
- 172, according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry post quoted in the article
- Captain
- Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot
- Suspect
- Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national
- Outcome
- The aircraft landed safely; Machchhar was hospitalized and reported out of danger.
- Israeli response
- Israel’s Foreign Ministry praised the passengers and crew in a post on X.
- Diplomatic context
- The article says the UAE and Israel established ties after signing the Abraham Accords in 2020.