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Indian captain of the plane Smit Machchhar was in the middle of a major mid-air crisis when a Flydubai plane was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday after a violent quarrel took place in the cockpit.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after Captain Smit Machchhar (Indian) was reportedly stabbed by his co-pilot during a cockpit altercation that triggered a hijack alert (code 7500); passengers restrained the co-pilot, leading to a safe landing where both pilots required hospitalization.
Machchhar is believed to have been stabbed by his co-pilot, who is reported to be from Oman, while the plane was on its way to Israel. The Boeing 737 plane has since been diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it made a safe landing.
What Happened On Flydubai Flight FZ1073?
FZ1073, the flight in question, was heading from Dubai to Tel Aviv, with about 180 individuals aboard. In the course of the journey, the plane gave out an alert sign together with the code 7500, meaning unlawful interference or a potential hijack.
From the flight tracking records, it is clear that the plane experienced a sudden drop in altitude before it was redirected to Tabuk. According to reports, Israeli fighter jets were scrambled due to the fear of a hijack because of the alert issued.
The pilot who was stabbed on FlyDubai flight 1073 has been identified as Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national based in Dubai, reports @ariel_oseran.
We are praying for Captain Machchhar’s recovery🙏 pic.twitter.com/Unw0yO6Z7l
— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) September 30, 2026
The two pilots were involved in a fight in the cockpit according to Israeli authorities. According to the reports, passengers and other crew members intervened to restrain the attacker.
Eventually, the plane was directed to land at Tabuk Airport, northwestern Saudi Arabia, with both pilots admitted to the hospital. All passengers were reported safe.
The cause of the fight and motive for such an attack from the co-pilot are still under investigation.
Who Is Captain Smit Machchhar?
Machchhar is an Indian national who has considerable experience flying Boeing aircraft.
According to his professional profile cited by Indian media, he joined Flydubai in June 2022 as a direct-entry captain. Before moving to Flydubai, he spent around 11 years with SpiceJet, where he served as a senior commander and later as a line training captain.
His profile lists more than 9,750 hours of flying experience, including extensive experience operating Boeing 737 aircraft. During his time at SpiceJet, he was also involved in training and assessing other pilots.
His experience in Boeing 737 operations is significant because the Flydubai aircraft involved in Wednesday’s incident was a Boeing 737 MAX 8.
Machchhar’s Journey To Becoming A Pilot
Machchhar has previously spoken about how he entered aviation.
In a podcast appearance last year, he reportedly recalled that he initially studied management with the idea of joining his family business. His interest in aviation developed after he attended an aviation seminar.
That experience eventually encouraged him to pursue flying as a career. He also recalled his first commercial flight, which was from Bengaluru to Delhi.
His career later took him to SpiceJet, where he spent more than a decade before joining Flydubai.
Passengers Helped Control The Situation
The incident did not remain confined to the cockpit.
According to accounts cited in reports, passengers and crew members moved towards the cockpit after hearing screams and becoming aware of the emergency. They helped overpower and restrain the co-pilot.
Reuters reported that passengers, assisted by a crew member, entered the cockpit and subdued the attacker. The aircraft was subsequently brought under control and diverted to Saudi Arabia.
A passenger’s account reported by AFP also described hearing shouting from the cockpit and seeing blood after the aircraft landed. These accounts are part of the ongoing reporting around the incident and are still being examined by authorities.
Netanyahu Praises Pilot, Crew And Passengers
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the incident as a serious security event and praised the captain, crew and passengers for their actions.
Israeli authorities have been investigating whether the incident could have been an attempted attack. However, the motive has not yet been established, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Netanyahu also held an emergency security meeting following the incident. Israeli authorities increased security measures after the flight triggered fears of a hijacking.
