Indian captain Smit Machchhar identified as pilot stabbed on flydubai flight

Indian captain Smit Machchhar, who is of Gujarati origin, joined flydubai as a direct-entry captain in June 2022. Before that, he spent nearly 11 years with SpiceJet, working there from June 2011 until 2022.

In Short

• Indian captain Smit Machchhar stabbed aboard flydubai flight FZ1073
• Omani co-pilot tried to crash plane; Machchhar, passangers intervened
• Flydubai flight landed safely in Saudi Arabia's Tabuk Airport

Indian national Smit Machchhar has been identified as the flydubai captain who was stabbed during Wednesday's incident aboard flight FZ1073, which was diverted from its Dubai-Tel Aviv route to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.

Machchhar, who is of Gujarati origin, joined flydubai as a direct-entry captain in June 2022. Before that, he spent nearly 11 years with SpiceJet, working there from June 2011 until 2022.

He is a Boeing 737 fleet specialist with expertise in safety and compliance and has also mentored other pilots, according to the sources. Machchhar holds a Business Administration degree from Welingkar Institute of Management.

The Flydubai aircraft was diverted to Tabuk Airport after an in-flight confrontation involving the pilots. According to Israeli officials, the co-pilot stabbed the captain and tried to crash the aircraft, prompting passengers and other pilots on board to intervene. The aircraft went into a sharp descent before being brought under control. Both pilots were injured and taken to hospital following the incident.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hailed Captain Smit Machchhar as a "true hero", crediting his bravery with helping avert a major mid-air disaster. Machchhar was stabbed during a confrontation with his co-pilot but, despite his injuries, fought back and managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to rush in and intervene.

CO-PILOT TRIED TO CRASH PLANE

According to the Israeli Prime Minister, the co-pilot tried to crash the aircraft after stabbing the captain. Passengers and other pilots on board then intervened and helped bring the plane under control before it landed safely in Saudi Arabia.

Netanyahu described the incident as a "highly severe security incident" and said Saudi authorities would question the co-pilot, who was arrested after the aircraft landed. An Israeli official identified the attacker as an Omani national.

"All passengers are out of harm's way," Netanyahu said in a video statement released by his office, adding that most of those on board were Israeli.

Netanyahu said passengers and a crew member forced their way into the cockpit after the aircraft "entered a tailspin and began to dive". They found the co-pilot trying to interfere with the aircraft's systems.

"They saved many lives. They prevented a heavy disaster," he said.

PLANE PLUNGED THOUSANDS OF FEET

The incident unfolded after the aircraft transmitted emergency signals during the flight. According to flight-tracking data, the plane appeared to descend rapidly by nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before the first emergency signal was transmitted.

The flight eventually landed at Tabuk Airport, where both pilots were taken to hospital and passengers received assistance.

However, officials initially gave differing assessments of what had happened. Around the time of the landing, Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for Netanyahu's office, told Reuters that the incident was not believed to be a hijacking and described it as a “different incident”.

Israeli officials later said their assessment was that the episode was an attempted "terror attack". They also said there was no indication at that stage that the incident was linked to a mental health issue involving either pilot.

The investigation is continuing as authorities examine what happened inside the cockpit, how the confrontation began and how the aircraft was brought safely to the ground.

- Ends