Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot, successfully unlocked his cockpit door after being stabbed by his co-pilot during a September 30, 2026, flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Passengers and crew then subdued the attacker, allowing the flight to land safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following a rapid 17,000-foot descent.
The harrowing incident aboard Flydubai Flight 1073 began approximately two and a half hours into the journey. According to flight tracking data from Flightradar24, the Boeing 737 Max plummeted from a cruising altitude of 34,000 feet to 17,000 feet in less than two minutes. Inside the cabin, passengers reported the plane shaking violently as it entered a sharp nose-down dive. Approximately 180 people were on board, most of whom were Israeli nationals.
Captain Smit Machchhar Fights Co-Pilot to Save Passengers
In the cockpit, Captain Smit Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot, an Omani national whose identity has not been publicly released. Despite sustaining serious wounds to his head, arm, and torso, Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door, which had been secured to prevent unauthorized entry. The captain later recounted the ordeal to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi via a video call from his hospital bed in Abu Dhabi, explaining that he fought for his life because he realized that if he did not get up, the passengers would lose their lives.
Once the door was opened, passengers rushed to intervene.
I was fighting for my life. At one point, I realized that if I didn’t get up … then passengers would lose their lives.
Smit Machchhar, Flydubai Captain
Dr. Shota Musayev, an Israeli dentist who was also on board, provided medical assistance to the captain. Musayev reported finding the attacker on top of the captain, stabbing him. He noted that the captain was covered in cuts, particularly on his head and hands, and had lost a large amount of blood.
Emergency Landing in Tabuk
The aircraft made an erratic movement over Saudi Arabia. One source who heard the communication reported that a trembling voice requested permission to land, stating that ambulances would be needed on the ground. Despite the plea, the off-duty pilots who took control of the plane were redirected through Jordanian airspace before the aircraft was finally granted permission to land at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.
Upon arrival, the injured captain was transported to a hospital in Abu Dhabi, where the Indian ambassador to the UAE visited him, noting he was in good health and recovering well. The airline has suspended flights to Tel Aviv until at least October 15, and Israeli airlines have received approval to begin repatriating stranded citizens.
Investigation Into Motive and Regional Security
The motive for the attack remains under investigation. Israeli officials have described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack. In a video message, Netanyahu credited Captain Machchhar and the passengers with averting a catastrophe. Furthermore, U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Thursday that Iran would be hit very hard if any link to the attack is discovered.
The UAE has taken responsibility for the investigation, and Saudi Arabia transferred the co-pilot to the UAE on Thursday, accompanied by an Emirati security team. Israeli investigators have been sent to the UAE to join the locally led effort and help determine whether the attack was orchestrated by outside parties. Netanyahu noted that the country is looking into whether the co-pilot had been instructed by anyone, warning that whoever sent him would pay a very heavy price.
Alex Bystram, the executive producer of Mayday, commented on the incident after learning that a viewer used lessons from the show to help stabilize the plane.