Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot with more than 13 years of commercial aviation experience, has emerged at the centre of the dramatic incident aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was diverted to Saudi Arabia after a violent confrontation in the cockpit.
Machchhar, who was flying the Boeing 737 MAX 8 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was reportedly stabbed by his co-pilot during the flight. He fought back despite being injured, while crew members and passengers intervened to subdue the other pilot. The aircraft, carrying 174 passengers including 27 children, eventually landed safely at Tabuk in north-western Saudi Arabia.
The Indian captain's actions have been praised by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Netanyahu described Machchhar as a hero, while Modi said his courage and resolve helped save hundreds of lives and avert a major tragedy.
Machchhar's aviation career
Machchhar has been working with flydubai since June 2022, when he joined the airline as a direct-entry captain. Before moving to the Dubai-based carrier, he spent around 11 years with SpiceJet in India.
He joined SpiceJet in 2011 and served in several roles, including senior commander and line training captain. His responsibilities included training and assessing other pilots.
According to his professional profile, Machchhar has more than 13 years of commercial flying experience on the Boeing 737 fleet and around 9,750 hours of flying experience. He is currently based in Dubai.
From textile engineering to aviation
Aviation was not Machchhar's original career plan.
After completing school, he enrolled in a textile engineering course connected to his family's business. He later decided to pursue a management course.
It was during that course, when he was 19, that he attended an aviation seminar and discovered that he wanted to become a pilot.
His decision initially worried his mother, while his father was more accepting of the career choice.
Machchhar subsequently trained in New Zealand. He has said in a podcast that his training cost around ₹16 lakh to ₹17 lakh.
His brother has also recently joined flydubai.
What happened aboard Flight FZ1073
Flight FZ1073 took off from Dubai International Airport for Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel on Wednesday morning.
According to accounts from Israeli officials, a confrontation broke out on the flight deck while the aircraft was cruising towards Israel. Netanyahu said one pilot stabbed the other and attempted to crash the aircraft.
Machchhar was reportedly the pilot who was attacked. Despite being injured, he fought back against the co-pilot.
The aircraft subsequently suffered a dramatic loss of altitude. Flight-tracking data indicated that the Boeing 737 MAX 8 dropped about 14,300 feet in 37 seconds, while other reports citing tracking data have put the total descent at more than 17,000 feet during the broader struggle. The aircraft also transmitted an unlawful-interference signal before diverting to Tabuk.
Crew members and passengers eventually managed to enter the cockpit and subdue the attacker. Two off-duty flydubai pilots travelling as passengers also helped the crew regain control of the aircraft, according to reports.
The aircraft then diverted to Tabuk, where it landed safely. All 174 passengers and crew were accounted for.
Machchhar was taken to hospital after the landing and underwent surgery. The Indian embassy said he was stable and receiving medical treatment.
Who was on the flight
The passengers included nationals of Israel, India and the United Arab Emirates. The US State Department said four passengers were American citizens.
The flight was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children. Most of the passengers were Israeli nationals because the aircraft was travelling to Tel Aviv.
The co-pilot was reportedly an Omani national. Saudi authorities arrested him after the aircraft landed in Tabuk and began questioning him. The motive behind the incident has not been established.
Flydubai has urged caution over speculation while the investigation continues. The airline has described the incident as an altercation and said the underlying reasons and motives remain subject to a formal investigation.
Flights to Israel suspended
Flydubai suspended its flights to and from Israel following the incident while investigations were under way. Netanyahu said he had spoken to the UAE's president, who agreed that Israeli authorities would participate in questioning the suspect.
The incident occurred days before the anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel. Netanyahu had also warned in recent days of heightened but unspecified security threats.
Israeli authorities are investigating the incident, while Saudi authorities are handling the arrested co-pilot. The precise sequence of events inside the cockpit and the motive remain under investigation.