Indian captain Smit Machchhar has emerged as a central figure in the dramatic emergency aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The aircraft diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a violent cockpit incident in which Machchhar was stabbed and the plane lost altitude rapidly.
Cockpit attack
The incident unfolded on September 30 while the Boeing 737 MAX was en route to Tel Aviv. Israeli officials said the co-pilot attacked Machchhar inside the cockpit and attempted to take control of the aircraft.
Flydubai confirmed that a serious cockpit altercation occurred but said the underlying cause and motive remain subject to formal investigation. The airline urged against premature conclusions while authorities establish the facts.
Passengers and crew reportedly helped overpower the co-pilot after Machchhar managed to give others access to the cockpit. Two off-duty Flydubai pilots travelling as passengers then took control of the aircraft.
Emergency landing
The aircraft diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Flydubai said all passengers and crew were accounted for.
Flight-tracking data showed that FZ1073 transmitted emergency signals during the incident and lost a large amount of altitude in a short period. Machchhar and the other pilot were taken for medical treatment after landing.
Saudi authorities detained the co-pilot as part of the investigation. Israeli officials identified him as an Omani national, although his nationality and motive have not been independently confirmed.
Pilot profile
Machchhar is an Indian aviation professional with more than 13 years of commercial flying experience. According to his public professional profile, he has accumulated about 9,750 flight hours on Boeing 737 aircraft.
He joined Flydubai as a captain in June 2022 after spending approximately 11 years with SpiceJet, where he worked as a senior commander and Line Training Captain. His experience includes the Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX family.
He also studied at the Welingkar Institute of Management and has experience training and evaluating other pilots.
Hijack signal
Flight-tracking information showed that the aircraft transmitted emergency code 7700, the international signal for a general emergency. Reports also indicated that code 7500, associated with unlawful interference or hijacking, was briefly transmitted.
That sequence contributed to early speculation that the incident involved an attempted hijacking. However, investigators have not yet released a final account of what happened inside the cockpit.
Investigation
Machchhar later underwent surgery and was reported to be in stable condition. Flydubai and Indian authorities were in contact with his family following the incident.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the passengers and crew who helped regain control of the aircraft, saying their actions prevented a major disaster.
For now, Machchhar’s actions are being widely credited with helping save the flight, but the precise motive behind the cockpit attack remains under investigation. The key unanswered questions are how the weapon entered the cockpit, what triggered the attack and whether investigators ultimately classify the incident as attempted hijacking, terrorism or another form of criminal act.
