Captain Smit Machchhar was injured after his co-pilot allegedly attacked him with a knife, but managed to open the cockpit door and help prevent a potentially catastrophic incident
Our Bureau
Dubai / Mumbai
A routine flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv turned into a mid-air emergency after the aircraft’s captain was allegedly attacked by his co-pilot, who stabbed him and attempted to take control of the plane.
Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot commanding flydubai flight FZ1073, was seriously injured in the incident but managed to respond despite his wounds. According to the account provided by Indian officials, his actions enabled passengers and crew members to intervene and helped prevent what could have become a major aviation disaster.
The flight was carrying 174 passengers when the incident occurred while the aircraft was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The exact circumstances surrounding the alleged attack and what prompted it have not been detailed in the information released so far.
Machchhar was attacked inside the cockpit by his co-pilot, who allegedly stabbed him and attempted to take control of the aircraft. The captain, despite being injured, managed to unlock the cockpit door. This allowed passengers and members of the cabin crew to enter the cockpit and intervene.
The aircraft was subsequently diverted from its planned route and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Machchhar was taken to a hospital in Tabuk for treatment.
The incident has since drawn attention to the critical role played by the captain after he was attacked. Rather than losing control of the situation, Machchhar was able to take the action necessary to open the cockpit, allowing others on board to assist.
The Indian Embassy in the UAE has been closely following his recovery. Ambassador to the UAE Deepak Mittal visited Machchhar at a UAE hospital along with his family and said the pilot was in stable condition and recovering well.
“I was very relieved to see, and very reassured, that he’s doing well,” Mittal told Prasar Bharati. He said the captain was talking and chatting despite some discomfort and was receiving good medical care.
The ambassador described Machchhar as a “brave son of India” and credited his actions with saving hundreds of lives and preventing a major catastrophe. He also met members of the pilot’s family, with the meeting facilitated with the support of UAE authorities.
Mittal said the Indian Embassy remained in constant contact with UAE officials to ensure that Machchhar received the assistance and medical care required during his recovery.
The pilot’s condition has also prompted recognition in his home state of Gujarat. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced that the state government would honour Machchhar with the Visisht Gujarat Garima Award for his bravery.
Patel said Machchhar had saved the lives of the 174 passengers despite being injured in the attack. Describing him as a “valiant son of Gujarat”, the chief minister said his actions had brought honour to both the state and the country.
The incident raises questions about how an alleged cockpit assault could occur during a commercial flight and how the crew and passengers responded once the captain was injured. However, the available account does not yet provide a full explanation of the sequence of events inside the cockpit or the alleged co-pilot’s motive.
For now, the immediate outcome is clear: the aircraft was diverted safely, all 174 passengers survived, and Machchhar is recovering in hospital.
What began as a normal Dubai-Tel Aviv flight therefore became a serious aviation emergency in which the captain himself became the victim of an alleged attack. His ability to respond while injured, open the cockpit and enable others to intervene proved crucial in bringing the aircraft safely to the ground.