‘Who’s Going To Save You?’: Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar’s Old Podcast Video Goes Viral After Cockpit Stabbing
An 11-month-old podcast video of Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar has resurfaced after he was reportedly stabbed by his co-pilot mid-flight. In it, he asks, 'who's going to save you?' if something goes wrong in the air.
An old podcast video of Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar has resurfaced online after he was reportedly stabbed by his co-pilot during a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight on Wednesday, with viewers noting how eerily his words now read. The clip, which is around 11 months old and was uploaded on the YouTube channel CS Zalak Mehta, shows the pilot reflecting on who comes to a passenger's aid when an emergency strikes at altitude. "When we're up there and something happens, who's going to save you?" Machchhar says in the video, which has been widely shared on X since news of the cockpit attack broke. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and the motive behind the alleged attack remains unclear.
Machchhar, an Indian national, was reportedly wounded in the cockpit, and the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia has said he is in stable condition.
Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar's 11-Month-Old Podcast Video Resurfaces After Cockpit Stabbing
What Machchhar Said In The Video
Speaking on the Bona-Fide Banter podcast hosted by Zalak Mehta, the captain talked about his aviation career and his work mentoring aspiring pilots. He said that having a doctor among the passengers during an in-flight emergency would be a stroke of luck, but added that the flight crew can also provide lifesaving help. His point was that a crew's ability to respond matters most when an ordinary flight turns into an emergency. Who Is Smit Machchhar? Indian Pilot Fights Off Cockpit Attack, Saves Flydubai Dubai-Tel Aviv Flight FZ1073 From Crashing.
Passengers And Crew Step In
Witnesses said passengers entered the cockpit and struggled with the attacker as the plane descended sharply. Passenger Yaniv Hayoun said he briefly pulled the controls before crew members took over. Dentist Shota Musayev, another passenger who intervened, attended to the wounded captain. Flydubai credited its on-duty crew with securing the aircraft and landing it safely. PM Narendra Modi, Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump and Other Leaders Praise Indian Pilot Smit Machchhar for Averting Mid-Air Disaster.
Netanyahu Praises Captain
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the captain's resistance, saying he helped passengers and crew overpower the attacker. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 01, 2026 08:35 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).