Meet Smit Machchhar: Indian Pilot Who Survived Alleged Cockpit Attack on Dubai-Tel Aviv Flight

Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar has become a hero after he was seriously injured while resisting an alleged attempt by his co-pilot to crash a Flydubai aircraft travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

Despite being stabbed during a mid-air confrontation, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene and overpower the attacker, helping stop the potential aviation disaster.

The incident took place on Wednesday, September 30th aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 carrying 174 passengers. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a violent confrontation broke out inside the cockpit. Machchhar was taken to a hospital in Tabuk, where he was reported to be in stable condition and receiving medical treatment.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Machchhar for his courage and presence of mind during the incident. The alleged attack is under investigation, and the motive behind the co-pilot's actions has not yet been established.

Who Is Smit Machchhar?

Captain Smit Machchhar is an Indian commercial pilot from Mumbai, Maharashtra, with more than 13 years of experience in the aviation industry. According to his professional profile, he has accumulated more than 9,750 hours of flying experience, primarily on the Boeing 737 aircraft.

Machchhar began his aviation career with SpiceJet in 2011, where he worked for more than 11 years. During his tenure, he held senior positions, including Senior Commander and Line Training Captain, with responsibilities that included training, assessing and mentoring pilots.
In June 2022, he joined Dubai-based airline Flydubai as a direct-entry captain and has since been flying its Boeing 737 fleet. His professional profile lists experience on the Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9 aircraft.

What Happened Aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073?

On September 30th, Flydubai Flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport when an alleged attack took place inside the cockpit.

According to reports, the Omani co-pilot allegedly stabbed Machchhar during the flight and attempted to crash the aircraft. Israeli officials said the aircraft experienced a sharp descent during the confrontation, with flight-tracking data indicating that it lost nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.

Despite his injuries, Machchhar reportedly managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to enter and restrain the co-pilot. Other qualified pilots who were travelling on board subsequently took control of the aircraft, which was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia and landed safely.

All 174 passengers survived the incident. The co-pilot was arrested by Saudi authorities and was being questioned as part of the investigation. Flydubai said the circumstances and underlying reasons for the incident remained unclear and cautioned against premature speculation.