Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Dubai Prince Praises Indian Pilot After Cockpit Attack
A flydubai plane was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv when its co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar.
The captain was hurt but managed to open the cockpit door.
Passengers helped restrain the co-pilot, and two off-duty pilots helped fly the plane.
The aircraft landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and everyone on board got off safely.
Machchhar is recovering in a hospital.
UAE officials praised him for his courage, and India’s prime minister also spoke with him.
The UAE prosecutor general called the incident an attempted terrorist attack.
Investigators are still looking into what happened and why.
UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed visited injured flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar and praised his courage.
The co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar with a crash axe aboard flight FZ1073 on September 30.
The aircraft diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where all 180 people on board safely disembarked.
Passengers and two off-duty pilots helped subdue the co-pilot and land the aircraft; Machchhar is recovering under medical care.
The UAE prosecutor general called the incident an attempted terrorist attack, while the investigation into the suspect’s motive continues.
- Who
- Captain Smit Machchhar, the co-pilot, passengers, and two off-duty pilots aboard flydubai flight FZ1073.
- What
- The co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain in the cockpit; passengers and off-duty pilots helped stop the attack and land the plane.
- When
- September 30; Sheikh Hamdan visited Machchhar on October 3.
- Where
- Aboard a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight, which diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The alleged motive has not been established; the investigation is ongoing.
Official characterizations
Cautions and unresolved questions
How the incident is described
Official characterizations
The UAE prosecutor general called it an attempted terrorist attack and said the co-pilot tried to take control of the aircraft.
Cautions and unresolved questions
Flydubai’s chief executive initially described it as a safety incident, and the airline said the circumstances remained under investigation.
Suspect’s past and motive
Official characterizations
Media reports cited claims that the suspect had faced concerns about extremist views during earlier training or had been barred from flying in Oman.
Cautions and unresolved questions
Those claims have not all been publicly confirmed by Omani authorities, and investigators have not established the suspect’s motive.
Pilot screening for the Tel Aviv flight
Official characterizations
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would examine a possible loophole and increase security checks for pilots flying into Israel.
Cautions and unresolved questions
It remained unclear how the co-pilot came to be assigned to the flight.
- Flight
- flydubai FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv
- Incident date
- September 30
- Diversion airport
- Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
- People aboard
- 180 people; all safely disembarked
- Captain
- Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar, recovering under medical supervision
- UAE description
- The UAE prosecutor general described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack
- Investigation
- Led by the UAE; Israeli investigators are expected to participate
- Recognition
- Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced the Visisht Gujarat Garima Award for Machchhar