NEW DELHI, India | 2 October 2026 | Indian Captain Smit Machchhar, who was seriously injured when his co-pilot allegedly attacked him aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, has recalled how he fought to regain control of himself and open the cockpit door as the aircraft plunged sharply, allowing passengers and other crew members to intervene.
Machchhar, speaking from an Abu Dhabi hospital during a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, said he realized he had to get back on his feet because the lives of passengers were at risk. He said he had suffered multiple wounds and could feel the aircraft plummeting even after he had been knocked down.
The incident occurred on September 30 aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was flying from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv. The aircraft, a Boeing 737 carrying 182 people including eight crew members, was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it made a safe emergency landing. Flydubai said all passengers and crew were safe and accounted for.
According to AP and Israeli officials, the co-pilot, identified as an Omani national, allegedly stabbed Machchhar in the cockpit before the aircraft began a steep descent. Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers to enter and help restrain the attacker while other Flydubai crew members took control of the aircraft. The suspect was arrested in Saudi Arabia, while authorities continued investigating the motive.
Machchhar, who has 17 years of flying experience and has served as a captain for 11 years, said he recited the Hanuman Chalisa during the ordeal. He credited the prayer with giving him courage as he struggled to respond to the emergency.
The incident has triggered renewed scrutiny of aviation security, particularly the possibility of threats originating from flight crew rather than passengers. AP reported that investigators from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Israel are examining the incident, with the United States and Oman assisting the investigation.
The episode also highlights a longstanding tension in aviation security. Cockpit doors were reinforced and locked worldwide following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to prevent unauthorized access to flight decks. The International Civil Aviation Organization has since emphasized measures addressing insider threats, including access controls, screening and secured cockpit procedures.
Flydubai has said the causes and motives of the incident remain subject to the official investigation and urged against premature conclusions. The airline subsequently suspended its Israel operations as authorities assessed the security implications.
The incident has also disrupted travel between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Israel announced plans for repatriation flights to bring stranded passengers home after commercial travel between the two countries was suspended. Israeli carriers were expected to operate the flights beginning Friday, although authorities warned that security coordination and other preparations could cause delays.
For Machchhar, however, the immediate focus remains recovery. His account of the attack has added a personal dimension to an incident that has already prompted questions about cockpit security, crew screening and the ability of aviation systems to respond when the threat comes from inside the flight deck.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
