Flydubai Flight FZ1073 diverted to Saudi Arabia after Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed in the cockpit. All 174 passengers survived the incident

New Delhi: Flydubai Flight FZ1073, flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv, made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on September 30 after a fight broke out inside the cockpit. The co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar while the Boeing 737 MAX 8 was flying at about 34,000 feet. The aircraft later landed safely in Tabuk after passengers, cabin crew and two off-duty pilots helped control the situation. All 174 passengers survived.

A routine flight turns into a mid-air emergency

Flydubai Flight FZ1073 left Dubai International Airport on Wednesday, September 30. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was heading to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.

The flight carried 174 passengers, including 27 children, along with the crew. Most passengers were Israeli.

About two hours into the flight, the aircraft was flying at around 34,000 feet and approaching Israeli airspace. A fight then broke out between the two pilots inside the cockpit.

The incident quickly turned into an emergency as the aircraft began to lose altitude.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said that one pilot stabbed the other and “apparently attempted to crash the plane with everyone on board.”

Israeli officials described the incident as an attempted “jihadist terror attack.” However, authorities have not confirmed the motive behind the incident.

The attack inside the cockpit

According to reports, the co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with a knife or blade.

The attack left Machchhar seriously injured and bleeding. The two pilots were inside the locked cockpit when the struggle began.

An Omani official confirmed to CBS News that the alleged attacker was born in Oman. Authorities have not publicly confirmed his name.

The attack created a serious problem because the pilots controlled the aircraft while it was flying at high altitude.

Netanyahu said the co-pilot apparently tried to crash the plane. Investigators have not yet confirmed what caused the attack or whether the co-pilot had a specific motive.

A sudden and steep dive

The struggle inside the cockpit affected the aircraft’s flight path.

Flight-tracking data showed that the plane suddenly dropped thousands of feet in a short period. Different tracking estimates put the drop at roughly 14,000 to 17,400 feet.

Passengers felt the aircraft move sharply and feared something had gone badly wrong.

The plane eventually regained stability as people inside the cabin responded to the emergency.

The incident happened while the aircraft approached Israeli airspace, adding to the concern among passengers and authorities.

Captain Machchhar’s critical act

Captain Machchhar suffered serious injuries but continued to fight back.

According to the Israel Foreign Ministry, he managed to unlock the cockpit door despite his injuries.

That decision allowed passengers and cabin crew to enter the cockpit and help stop the co-pilot.

A dentist travelling on the flight treated the injured captain. The passenger later said, “A few more moments, we would have lost him.”

Another passenger, Rajuan, described Machchhar’s condition after the attack. He said the pilot was “incapacitated, unable to speak, and was slumped over with his hands raised.”

The captain’s action gave others on the plane a chance to enter the cockpit and intervene.

Passengers and off-duty pilots step in

Passengers and cabin crew members moved toward the cockpit after the door opened.

They overpowered and restrained the co-pilot, who was reportedly still trying to interfere with the aircraft’s controls.

Two off-duty flydubai pilots also happened to travel as passengers on the same flight. They helped stabilise the aircraft and took control of the plane.

Their experience helped the flight crew manage the emergency while the injured pilots received assistance.

The passengers and crew then prepared for an emergency landing.

Emergency codes and the diversion to Tabuk

During the emergency, the aircraft transmitted the 7700 emergency code. The code tells air traffic controllers that an aircraft faces a general emergency.

The plane later reportedly transmitted 7500, which signals unlawful interference or a possible hijacking.

Israeli authorities responded by scrambling fighter jets.

The aircraft did not continue to Tel Aviv. Instead, the crew diverted the flight to Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia.

The airport sits close to a Saudi military base.

The aircraft landed safely in Tabuk. No passenger suffered injuries. Saudi authorities said two crew members needed hospital treatment.

Both pilots went to hospital after landing. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh confirmed that Machchhar received medical treatment in Tabuk and described him as the “brave Indian pilot.”

Saudi authorities arrested the co-pilot. Netanyahu said the suspect was “being questioned by the Saudi authorities.”

Who is Captain Smit Machchhar?

Smit Machchhar is an Indian citizen of Gujarati origin who lives in Mumbai. He joined flydubai in June 2022 as a direct-entry captain. Flydubai operates as Emirates’ low-cost sister airline.

Before joining flydubai, Machchhar worked with Indian airline SpiceJet for around 10 to 11 years.

He joined SpiceJet in 2011 and later worked as a senior commander and line training captain.

Machchhar has more than 13 years of commercial flying experience. Reports say he has around 9,750 flying hours and specialises in Boeing 737 aircraft.

Reports also say that flying was not his first career choice. His earlier background reportedly included studies or work linked to textile engineering or business before he entered commercial aviation.

Reactions: “a true hero”

Machchhar received praise from leaders in India and Israel after the plane landed safely.

Netanyahu called him a “true hero” and said his actions helped save the lives of people on the flight.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised Machchhar for his courage and said his actions helped prevent a major tragedy.

The Israel Foreign Ministry also called Machchhar a “hero” and said he “fought back after being stabbed in the cockpit.”

The officials also praised the passengers and crew members who entered the cockpit and helped bring the situation under control.

What investigators are still trying to establish

Authorities in Saudi Arabia, Israel and the UAE have started investigations into the incident.

Investigators want to establish what caused the cockpit attack and what happened during the struggle between the two pilots.

They will also examine how the alleged attacker obtained the weapon and how he passed security checks before the flight.

Authorities are also looking into his background and security clearance for a flight travelling to Israel.

Israeli officials have called the incident an attempted terror attack, while Netanyahu said the co-pilot apparently tried to crash the plane. However, authorities have not confirmed a final motive.

Investigators have also not publicly released the co-pilot’s name.

The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities are still working to establish the full sequence of events and the reason behind the attack.