Indian pilot hailed as hero for averting Flydubai cockpit disaster
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar has drawn international praise for averting a mid-air disaster after sustaining serious injuries during a violent cockpit struggle on a Flydubai flight.
Machchhar was commanding Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30 when his co-pilot allegedly attacked him and attempted to crash the Boeing 737. Israeli officials reported the aircraft plummeted nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds as the men fought over the controls.
Despite his severe injuries, Machchhar managed to activate the cockpit door release mechanism. This allowed passengers and cabin crew to breach the flight deck and overpower the attacker. Two off-duty Flydubai pilots travelling as passengers then took control and safely landed the aircraft in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
All 174 people on board survived the ordeal and later reached Tel Aviv on a replacement aircraft. A passenger who sustained injuries during the turbulent struggle required medical treatment upon arriving in Israel. Machchhar is currently recovering in a Tabuk hospital while Saudi authorities detain the co-pilot, identified by an Israeli official as an Omani national.
Both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have publicly commended Machchhar as a hero.
An unlikely aviation xareer
The pilot now at the centre of this international incident originally had no plans to fly commercial airliners. A Mumbai native, Machchhar studied textile engineering with intentions to join his family’s business. He later pursued management studies at Mumbai’s Welingkar Institute of Management where a chance attendance at an aviation seminar at age 19 shifted his career trajectory.
Following flight training in New Zealand, Machchhar joined Indian carrier SpiceJet in June 2011. He spent over 11 years there, eventually becoming a line training captain responsible for assessing and mentoring other pilots. He logged more than 6,400 hours as pilot-in-command at SpiceJet before moving to Flydubai in June 2022 as a direct-entry captain. He now holds roughly 9,750 flying hours across his 15-year career.
Prioritising safety protocols
Machchhar has previously spoken about his strict adherence to aviation protocols. In a 2025 interview, he emphasised that passenger safety always supersedes departure schedules, noting he readily delayed or diverted flights for minor technical concerns or medical emergencies. Outside the cockpit, Machchhar deliberately separates his profession from his personal life. He previously stated he avoids discussing aviation during his free time and focuses entirely on his family once he returns home.
The motive for the cockpit attack remains under investigation. Flydubai has cautioned the public against speculating while authorities establish the facts. Following the incident, Israeli officials announced tighter screening protocols for flight crews operating routes into the country.
