Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Flydubai Hijack Scare Echoes United Flight 93 Passengers' Courage
A Flydubai airplane faced a serious danger when an Omani co-pilot attacked the Indian pilot, Smit Machchhar.
The pilot fought back and stopped the co-pilot from taking control.
Passengers and crew then entered the cockpit and helped overpower him.
Other pilots on the plane landed it safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Benjamin Netanyahu praised the people who stopped what he described as a possible attack.
Narendra Modi also called Machchhar a hero.
The story reminded people of United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.
On that flight, passengers fought the hijackers, but the plane crashed in Pennsylvania before reaching its intended target.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised pilot Smit Machchhar and passengers after a Flydubai hijack scare.
Articles say an Omani co-pilot attacked Machchhar, who prevented him from taking control of the aircraft.
Passengers and crew entered the cockpit and overpowered the co-pilot, while another pair of pilots landed the plane in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Machchhar a hero who helped prevent another 9/11-style attack.
The episode was compared with United Airlines Flight 93, whose passengers fought hijackers before the plane crashed in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001.
- Who
- Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, passengers and crew, an Omani co-pilot, and later pilots aboard the Flydubai aircraft were involved; Benjamin Netanyahu and Narendra Modi praised their actions.
- What
- A co-pilot allegedly attacked the pilot during a Flydubai hijack scare, but the pilot and passengers prevented him from taking control and the aircraft was landed safely.
- When
- The Flydubai incident's date is not specified; the comparison concerns September 11, 2001, when United Airlines Flight 93 was hijacked.
- Where
- The Flydubai aircraft landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; Flight 93 crashed in fields in Pennsylvania.
- Why
- According to the articles, passengers and crew intervened to stop the co-pilot from taking over the aircraft and avert a possible attack.
- Flydubai pilot
- Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot praised for resisting the attack
- Aircraft outcome
- The aircraft was landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, by a second pair of pilots
- People who intervened
- Passengers and crew entered the cockpit and overpowered the co-pilot
- Israeli reaction
- Benjamin Netanyahu described the episode as preventing “Israel's 9/11”
- Indian reaction
- Narendra Modi called Machchhar a hero and praised his courage
- Historical comparison
- United Airlines Flight 93 passengers fought hijackers on September 11, 2001
- Flight 93 crash
- The plane crashed in Pennsylvania, killing everyone aboard but not reaching its intended target