Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot with flydubai, has been credited by Israeli officials with helping prevent a major mid-air disaster after a violent altercation broke out in the cockpit of flight FZ1073. The flight, which was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was diverted to Saudi Arabia after Machchhar was allegedly stabbed by his co-pilot. The incident occurred on a Boeing 737 aircraft carrying more than 170 passengers.
According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the co-pilot attacked Machchhar and attempted to interfere with the aircraft's controls. Despite being injured, Machchhar reportedly opened the cockpit door, allowing a crew member and passengers to enter and restrain the other pilot. The aircraft experienced a sharp loss of altitude during the struggle before control was restored.
The flight was subsequently diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. All passengers were reported safe, while both pilots were taken for medical treatment. India's embassy in Riyadh later confirmed that Machchhar was in stable condition. The incident has raised concerns about cockpit security and pilot safety.
Machchhar has been flying with flydubai since June 2022, according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior to joining flydubai, he spent over a decade with Indian low-cost carrier SpiceJet. Reports citing his professional profile indicate that he has over 13 years of commercial aviation experience and has accumulated nearly 10,000 hours of flying experience on Boeing 737 aircraft.
Before joining flydubai, Machchhar served in several roles at SpiceJet, including as a line-training captain and senior commander. He joined SpiceJet in 2011 and moved to flydubai as a direct-entry captain in 2022. According to accounts of his career, Machchhar initially pursued studies connected to his family's textile business before deciding to enter aviation.
Netanyahu praised Machchhar and the passengers and crew members who intervened during the cockpit struggle. However, details surrounding the incident, including the motive of the other pilot and the precise sequence of events, remain under investigation. Flydubai has urged against speculation before the inquiry is completed.
The passengers were later transported to Israel after the emergency diversion, while authorities continued investigating the incident. Flydubai confirmed that an incident occurred on the flight deck and that the aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, where it landed safely. The airline has suspended its flights to and from Israel while the incident is investigated.
Key points
- Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot with flydubai, helped save 174 lives after a violent altercation erupted in the cockpit of flight FZ1073.
- The incident occurred on a Boeing 737 aircraft traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which was diverted to Saudi Arabia after Machchhar was allegedly stabbed by his co-pilot.
- Machchhar has been flying with flydubai since June 2022 and has over 13 years of commercial aviation experience.
