Indian pilot stabbed by co-pilot on Flydubai flight, plane makes emergency landing in Saudi Arabia

An Indian pilot who previously worked with SpiceJet was stabbed by his co-pilot aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, September 30, in an incident that forced the aircraft carrying more than 170 passengers to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The captain, identified as Smit Machchhar, was injured during the confrontation, while Israeli officials alleged that the co-pilot had attempted to crash the aircraft.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8, operating as flight FZ1073, was flying towards Israel when the confrontation occurred inside the cockpit. Passengers and crew members reportedly intervened to restrain the co-pilot, following which other Flydubai crew members travelling aboard the aircraft took control and diverted it to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia.

Indian captain identified as former SpiceJet pilot

Machchhar, a Dubai-based Indian national, joined Flydubai as a captain in June 2022 after working with SpiceJet for approximately 11 years. According to his publicly available professional profile, he previously served as a senior commander with the Indian airline and became a line training captain in November 2020, responsible for training and evaluating other pilots.

His professional profile lists approximately 9,750 flying hours on Boeing 737 aircraft, including the 737-800 and 737 MAX variants. Machchhar was among the two pilots taken to hospital following Wednesday's incident, although his medical condition was not immediately known.

Aircraft loses altitude during cockpit confrontation

Flight-tracking data showed that the aircraft descended nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds during the incident. It subsequently transmitted emergency signals, including the international transponder code associated with unlawful interference, raising concerns about a possible hijacking.

According to accounts reported by Israeli media, passengers heard screams from the cockpit before becoming aware of the confrontation. A passenger's family member told Reuters that her daughter had reported seeing a man holding a knife and forcing one of the pilots to the floor, with blood visible inside the aircraft.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a passenger and a crew member had intervened during the confrontation and helped overpower the alleged attacker. He praised those involved for their actions, saying their intervention had prevented a potentially disastrous outcome.

Emergency landing in Saudi Arabia

Saudi airport authorities said air traffic controllers at Tabuk received a distress call from the aircraft at 8.44 am local time. Emergency arrangements were activated, and the aircraft landed safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport at approximately 9.45 am.

Both the captain and co-pilot sustained injuries and were subsequently taken to hospital for medical treatment. Passengers were provided assistance at the airport while arrangements were made for replacement aircraft.

Netanyahu said Saudi authorities had arrested the co-pilot and would question him about the incident. Israeli officials described the episode as a serious security incident and said the possibility of an attempted terrorist attack was being examined.

However, the motive behind the confrontation has not been established, and the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack remain under investigation.

Flydubai confirms cockpit altercation

In an updated statement, Flydubai confirmed that an altercation had occurred on the flight deck of FZ1073 while the aircraft was travelling from Dubai International Airport to Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport. The airline said its crew members travelling aboard the flight had secured the aircraft and successfully diverted it to Tabuk.

The carrier confirmed that all passengers and crew were safe and accounted for. It also announced that two replacement aircraft had been deployed to Tabuk to assist passengers and crew affected by the incident.

Flydubai said the underlying reasons and motives remained unknown and were subject to a formal investigation. It urged against premature speculation while authorities gathered evidence and established the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.

The airline added that the incident had not affected other scheduled operations across its network. Its immediate priority, it said, was the safety and well-being of those involved and cooperation with the official investigation.

Questions remain over cockpit security

The incident has raised questions about the circumstances that allowed a violent confrontation to develop inside the cockpit of a commercial passenger aircraft. Investigators have yet to establish how the alleged attacker obtained a weapon, what triggered the confrontation and whether the emergency signals were deliberately activated.

While Israeli officials have alleged that the co-pilot intended to crash the aircraft, Flydubai has not independently confirmed that allegation. The formal investigation is expected to establish the sequence of events and determine the circumstances surrounding the attack.