Flydubai Hijack Scare: Indian-Origin Captain Smit Machchhar Regains Control of ‘Crashing’ Plane After Co-Pilot Attack

A Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday after a violent incident involving its pilots, with reports saying the Indian-origin captain helped regain control of the aircraft after an alleged confrontation with his Omani co-pilot. Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737, was flying towards Ben Gurion Airport when emergency signals were transmitted and the aircraft made a sharp descent. It later diverted to Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Flydubai said all passengers were safe and accounted for.

The incident initially triggered a hijacking alert and prompted Israel to scramble fighter aircraft. However, an official from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the incident was not believed to be a conventional hijacking. Israeli officials later said they were investigating whether the confrontation could have been an attempted attack. Who Is Yaniv? Flydubai Flight FZ1073 Passenger Helped Subdue Attacker As Civilian Pilots Landed Plane.

Smit Machchhar Reportedly Identified As Flydubai Captain

According to The Economic Times, the captain of the Flydubai aircraft has been identified as Smit Machchhar, an Indian national and former SpiceJet pilot. ET reported that Machchhar had flown with SpiceJet for about a decade before joining Flydubai in 2022. The report said he was injured during the cockpit confrontation but managed to regain control of the Boeing 737 before the aircraft was diverted to Saudi Arabia. However, Flydubai has not publicly identified the captain or confirmed his nationality. Therefore, his identity should be described as reported by The Economic Times, rather than officially confirmed by the airline.

What Happened Inside The Flydubai Cockpit?

According to Reuters, the co-pilot is believed to have stabbed the captain during a physical confrontation inside the cockpit. An Israeli official identified the co-pilot as an Omani national. Reuters reported that cabin crew entered the cockpit and took control of the aircraft after the confrontation. The exact sequence of events, including what triggered the fight and who transmitted the emergency codes, remains under investigation. Passenger accounts have also described shouting and panic inside the aircraft. Some passengers reportedly witnessed the aftermath of the confrontation, while reports said off-duty pilots and others on board helped during the emergency.

Flydubai Flight Sent 7700 And 7500 Emergency Codes

Flight-tracking data provided another indication of the seriousness of the incident. The aircraft initially transmitted 7700, the international code indicating a general emergency. It later transmitted 7500, a code associated with unlawful interference and commonly linked with a hijacking situation. Flightradar24 data cited by Reuters showed that the aircraft suddenly descended by nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before the first emergency signal was transmitted. The aircraft subsequently changed course and headed towards Saudi Arabia. The incident led to an immediate security response in Israel because the aircraft was carrying passengers bound for Tel Aviv. Flydubai FZ1073 Hijack Scare: What We Know About Stabbing, Pilot Fight and Diversion.

Flydubai Flight Diverted To Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

Flydubai confirmed that Flight FZ1073, operating from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport on September 30, experienced an incident while en route. The Boeing 737 landed safely at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The airline said all passengers were safe and accounted for and that its teams were working with the relevant authorities. Saudi authorities also provided assistance following the emergency landing. Reports said the pilots were taken to hospital for treatment after sustaining injuries.

Was The Flydubai Flight Hijacked?

The initial emergency signals raised concerns that the aircraft had been hijacked. Israeli fighter jets were reportedly scrambled as a precaution. However, an Israeli official later told Reuters that the incident was not believed to be a hijacking, describing it as a different type of incident. Later reports from Israeli officials suggested that the co-pilot may have attempted to take control of the aircraft and that the incident could have been an attempted attack. Reuters said Israeli officials were investigating the possibility of a terror attack, but the motive had not been conclusively established.

Investigation Into Cockpit Incident Underway

The circumstances surrounding the confrontation remain under investigation. Authorities are examining what happened inside the cockpit, the pilots' actions during the flight and the reason behind the aircraft's sudden descent and emergency diversion. While Israeli officials have discussed the possibility of an attempted attack, that remains an investigative assessment rather than an established final finding. For now, Flydubai has officially confirmed only that Flight FZ1073 experienced an incident, landed safely at Tabuk and that all passengers were accounted for. Further details about the pilots and the exact circumstances are expected as the investigation progresses.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 30, 2026 07:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).