Pilot Stabbed in Cockpit as Passengers Help Stop Midair Emergency on Flydubai Flight

A routine Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv turned into a dramatic midair emergency on Wednesday after the captain was stabbed by his co-pilot, forcing passengers and crew to rush into the cockpit and help regain control of the aircraft.

Flight FZ1073 was carrying 174 people aboard a Boeing 737 when the confrontation began. According to Israeli authorities and passengers, the co-pilot attacked Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot from Mumbai, while the aircraft was flying at cruising altitude.

The aircraft then descended sharply, dropping nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds, according to flight data cited by Reuters.

Passengers Rush Into the Cockpit

Despite being seriously injured, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door. Several passengers and crew members entered the cockpit and restrained the attacker.

One passenger then helped take control of the aircraft until additional crew members were able to stabilize the flight. The plane was diverted and made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Three passengers were treated for minor injuries after the incident, while Machchhar was taken to a hospital in Tabuk. The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said he was in stable condition.

A Pilot With Thousands of Hours in the Air

Machchhar has worked for Flydubai for about four years. Before joining the airline, he spent more than a decade with India’s SpiceJet, where he served as a senior commander and line training captain.

According to information reported by the Associated Press, Machchhar has logged more than 9,750 flying hours. His former flight school in New Zealand also praised his performance as a student and expressed hopes for his recovery.

Investigation Underway

The co-pilot, an Omani national, was arrested after the aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia. Authorities are investigating the incident, while the motive for the attack remains unclear.

Flydubai said the reasons behind the confrontation were not yet known and urged people to avoid premature speculation while investigators establish what happened.

The passengers eventually continued their journey to Israel on another flight after the emergency landing.

Sources

• Associated Press — “Indian airline captain hailed as ‘hero’ after cockpit stabbing on FlyDubai flight bound for Israel” — October 1, 2026.
• Reuters — “Passengers foil bid to crash Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, Israel says, after co-pilot stabs pilot” — September 30, 2026.
• ABC News Australia — “Netanyahu to ‘ramp up’ aviation security after pilot stabs colleague and ‘tries to crash plane’ bound for Israel” — October 1, 2026.