Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Pilot Recounts Flydubai Cockpit Attack and Emergency Landing
Captain Smit Machchhar was flying a plane from Dubai to Tel Aviv when, according to his account, his co-pilot attacked him.
Machchhar said the co-pilot had asked to pray, so he looked away.
A few minutes later, he felt blows to the back of his head.
His vision became blurry, and the plane began to descend quickly.
He said he managed to open the cockpit door from inside by twisting a knob.
Passengers and crew then entered and helped take control of the situation.
Other crew members helped stabilize the plane, which made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Machchhar and invited him to an Independence Day ceremony.
Authorities are investigating the incident and its motive.
Captain Smit Machchhar said his co-pilot asked to pray before striking him repeatedly in the cockpit.
Machchhar said the blows blurred his vision and he realized the aircraft was descending sharply.
He said an initial attempt to open the cockpit door was reversed, but he later opened it by twisting an inside knob.
Passengers and crew intervened, and other Flydubai crew members helped stabilize the aircraft before it landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Benjamin Netanyahu praised Machchhar and invited him and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to light a flame at Israel’s Independence Day ceremony.
- Who
- Captain Smit Machchhar, his co-pilot, passengers and crew aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later spoke with Machchhar.
- What
- Machchhar said his co-pilot attacked him in the cockpit; he opened the cockpit door, allowing others to intervene and help stabilize the aircraft.
- When
- The flight incident occurred on September 30. Netanyahu spoke with Machchhar on a Saturday; reports date the call to October 3 or October 4.
- Where
- The flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv and made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The UAE described the incident as an attempted terrorist act. Investigators are examining the circumstances and motive; no final motive has been established.
Preliminary official findings
Unresolved investigation
Characterization and motive
Preliminary official findings
UAE authorities described the co-pilot's actions as an attempted terrorist act and said he attacked Machchhar and tried to take control of the aircraft.
Unresolved investigation
A final motive has not been established. Claims about the co-pilot's background, prior flight restrictions, extremist views or possible links to others remain under investigation or have been attributed to media reports.
Number of people aboard
Preliminary official findings
Several reports stated that 174 people were aboard the flight.
Unresolved investigation
Another report gave a total of 182; the reports do not resolve the difference.
- Flight
- Flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
- Incident date
- September 30.
- People aboard
- Most reports cited 174 people; one account gave a total of 182.
- Machchhar's account
- He said the co-pilot asked to pray, then struck him repeatedly.
- Cockpit door
- Machchhar said it could be opened from inside by twisting a knob; those outside needed a code.
- Landing
- The aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a steep descent.
- Investigation
- The UAE called the incident an attempted terrorist act; the motive and possible connections remain under investigation.
- Invitation
- Netanyahu invited Machchhar and Narendra Modi to light a ceremonial flame at Israel's Independence Day event.
Sources
Omani Pilot Stood Up to Pray, Then Attacked Me: Machchhar Recalls Ordeal
Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar tells Netanyahu what happened inside cockpit: ‘Big blow to my head’
I had that one last fight left in me: Braveheart pilot
‘One last fight left in me’: Smit Machchhar details cockpit attack, struggle to open door
Skull Torn, Vision Blurred: How Capt Smit Machchhar Made His 'One Last Fight'
Netanyahu speaks to Indian pilot Smit Machchhar
‘Blows kept coming…I was completely blurred out’: Indian pilot recounts horror inside Flydubai cockpit
‘Co-pilot got up to pray, then.’: Indian pilot Machchhar reveals new details of flydubai cockpit attack to Netanyahu
‘I had one last fight left’: Indian pilot Smit Machchhar recounts flydubai cockpit attack to Netanyahu
'Co-Pilot Got Up To Pray, Then Hit Me On The Head': Smit Machchhar Reveals New Details Of Flydubai Incident
'You saved spirit of world': Netanyahu praises Flydubai aircraft pilot in call
