Smit Machchhar saves 174 passengers after co-pilot stabs him on Flydubai flight

Captain Smit Machchhar was lying on the floor of a flydubai flight deck covered in blood on September 30, 2026, when he clicked the release to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to overpower his attacker and save 174 passengers onboard flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The flight experienced a violent descent, plunging nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds after Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot in an apparent attempt to crash the aircraft.

Following the emergency landing at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, political leaders, passengers, and aviation experts detailed the chaos inside the cabin. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded Machchhar on X as a hero for showing immense courage in the face of grave danger, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu credited both the injured pilot and an Israeli passenger with preventing a major disaster.

Omani Pilot Stabs Colleague During Rapid Aircraft Descent

The incident began when Machchhar’s fellow pilot—reportedly an Omani national—stabbed him inside the cockpit of the Tel Aviv-bound jet. The sudden attack sent the aircraft plunging downward.

According to aviation experts cited in the source reports, the aircraft survived because sufficient altitude remained for recovery. Steve Arroyo, a former United Airlines pilot and safety expert, expressed astonishment that the aircraft did not come apart given the strong aerodynamic forces, while Jeff Guzzetti noted that the plane might not have been able to level out if it had fallen below 10,000 feet.

Passengers and Off-Duty Pilots Subdue the Attacker

As the jet descended, passengers and off-duty crew members rushed the cockpit to intervene. Yaniv Hayoun, an Israeli passenger described by Netanyahu as a plumber, entered the cabin.

Dr Shota Musaev, a dentist on the flight, told CNN that he found the attacker on top of the pilot and rushed to help Machchhar, whose head and hands were severely wounded and who had lost a massive amount of blood. Meanwhile, additional pilots traveling on the aircraft entered the cockpit, stabilized the plane, and landed safely in Saudi Arabia.

Diplomatic Rejections and Medical Recovery in Saudi Arabia

Captain Machchhar underwent surgery in Saudi Arabia and was listed in stable condition, according to Indian officials who remained in contact with his family in Mumbai. Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia turned down a request by Israel to allow Israeli military Super Hercules planes to pick up Israeli passengers from Tabuk airport, with passengers instead continuing their journey on flydubai aircraft as confirmed by the airline.

Israeli envoy to India Reuven Azar noted that Israel scrambled fighter jets as a precaution when the emergency signals were transmitted, though the warplanes did not need to take action. Netanyahu stated that Israel intends to follow and possibly participate in investigations regarding the co-pilot’s motive and whether any external entities were behind the attack.