Who Is Smit Machchhar? Indian Pilot Fights Off Cockpit Attack, Saves Flydubai Dubai-Tel Aviv Flight FZ1073 From Crashing
Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national and former SpiceJet pilot with over 9,750 flying hours, was identified as the commander attacked inside the cockpit of Flydubai flight FZ1073. Despite being stabbed during a violent altercation with the co-pilot that caused a sharp altitude drop, the flight was stabilized and made a safe emergency landing in Tabuk.
The pilot who was allegedly attacked by a co-pilot inside the cockpit of a Flydubai aircraft on Wednesday is an Indian national. The pilot has been identified as Smit Machchhar. The Flydubai Flight FZ1073 made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk after a violent fight with his co-pilot left him drenched in blood involving the pilots, bringing an abrupt halt to the scheduled flight between the United Arab Emirates and Israel.
Flydubai Flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with approximately 180 passengers and crew when a fight broke out between the two pilots in the cockpit. The aircraft subsequently diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Flydubai confirmed that all passengers and crew were safe and said it was cooperating with authorities. Flydubai Hijack Scare: Indian-Origin Captain Smit Machchhar Regains Control of ‘Crashing’ Plane After Co-Pilot Attack.
Who Is Smit Machchhar?
Smit Machchhar, a former SpiceJet pilot, joined Flydubai in June 2022 as a direct-entry captain, News18 reported. According to his LinkedIn profile, he has more than 13 years of commercial flying experience and has logged around 9,750 flying hours on Boeing 737 aircraft, including the B737-800 and B737 MAX 8/9.
Before joining Flydubai, Machchhar spent more than 11 years with SpiceJet, where he worked as a senior commander and later as a Line Training Captain. His profile says he logged more than 9,500 hours during his time with the airline, including over 6,400 hours as pilot-in-command. He also conducted line training, pilot checks and mentoring. His professional profile highlights expertise in crew resource management, flight standards, compliance and Boeing 737 operations. Who Is Yaniv? Flydubai Flight FZ1073 Passenger Helped Subdue Attacker As Civilian Pilots Landed Plane.
Mid-Air Altercation and Severe Altitude Plunge
Reports from Israeli officials and passengers said the incident involved a violent confrontation between the two pilots. The co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain. The exact sequence of events and motive remain under investigation.
The aircraft also transmitted emergency signals, including a code associated with unlawful interference, triggering fears of a possible hijacking and prompting Israel to scramble fighter jets. The plane then plunged sharply before diverting to Tabuk. Passenger accounts described screams and a chaotic scene in the front of the aircraft. Despite sustaining stab injuries and facing a sudden loss of control, Machchhar and off-duty crew members on board managed to contain the situation and avert a catastrophic crash.
Safe Landing in Tabuk and Ongoing Inquiries
Following the mid-air struggle, the Boeing 737 MAX touched down without further incident at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk. Both pilots were received by emergency personnel upon arrival and transferred to medical facilities for examination.
Aviation security agencies and regulatory bodies across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and international civil aviation authorities have initiated coordinated investigations to determine the full sequence of events leading up to the confrontation inside the flight deck.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 30, 2026 09:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).