An Indian-origin pilot Smit Machchhar from Gujarat reportedly helped prevent a Flydubai passenger aircraft from crashing after his co-pilot allegedly attempted to take control of the Boeing 737 during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday. During this, Machchhar was stabbed and badly injured.
Machchhar was the captain of Flydubai Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 carrying around 180 passengers and crew, when a violent confrontation reportedly took place inside the cockpit.
What Happened Inside the Cockpit?
According to reports, the Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar and attempted to take control of the aircraft. The confrontation reportedly became violent, with the co-pilot allegedly stabbing the captain. Israeli media reports said the co-pilot allegedly tried to force the aircraft into a descent.
The situation led to a rapid change in the aircraft’s flight path. Flight-tracking data showed the Boeing 737 making a rapid descent from cruising altitude before stabilising. The aircraft then diverted towards Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it eventually made an emergency landing.
During the scuffle, international media said that cabin crew and passengers subsequently helped restrain the attacker. Both pilots were injured during the incident and were taken to hospital after the aircraft landed in Tabuk.
Emergency Signals and Diversion
Following the cockpit confrontation, the aircraft transmitted emergency signals, including one indicating possible unlawful interference. The aircraft’s rapid descent was recorded by flight-tracking data before it stabilised.
It then changed course and headed towards Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing. The incident initially raised fears of a hijacking.
Israel responded by scrambling fighter jets, while Israeli authorities later said that the situation was under control.
Flydubai confirmed that Flight FZ1073 was operating from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport when it experienced an incident while en route.
The airline said the aircraft was diverted to Tabuk and landed safely. Flydubai also said that all passengers were safe and accounted for. The airline added that its teams were cooperating with the relevant authorities.
Investigation Continues
The incident has led to different accounts about what happened inside the cockpit. Some Israeli officials have described it as a possible attempted terror attack, while other reports have suggested a possible deliberate crash or suicide attempt.
For now, the investigation is focused on understanding what happened during the flight and why the confrontation between the two pilots occurred.
With the aircraft carrying around 180 passengers and crew, the incident put the actions inside the cockpit under intense scrutiny. At the centre of the reported struggle was Captain Smit Machchhar, the Gujarat-linked pilot who was flying the aircraft when the confrontation unfolded.
Gujarat Connection
The incident has drawn attention to Smit Machchhar, who is reported to belong to a Gujarati Nagar Brahmin family. Machchhar is a former SpiceJet pilot who joined Flydubai in June 2022 as a direct-entry captain.
His professional profile shows that he has more than 13 years of commercial flying experience and around 9,750 hours of experience on Boeing 737 aircraft. His Boeing 737 experience includes the B737-800 and B737 MAX variants.
Before joining Flydubai, Machchhar spent more than 11 years with SpiceJet, where he served as a Senior Commander and later as a Line Training Captain.
His profile indicates that he accumulated more than 9,500 flying hours with SpiceJet, including more than 6,400 hours as pilot-in-command. His professional experience also covers pilot training, flight checks, crew resource management, flight standards, and Boeing 737 operations.
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