Indian commercial pilot Captain Smit Machchhar is recovering after being seriously injured in a mid-air attack aboard a Flydubai flight, as investigators examine the background and possible motives of the co-pilot accused of attacking him during the journey from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Machchhar was flying Flydubai Flight FZ1073 when the incident occurred on 30 September 2026. The aircraft, carrying 174 passengers and crew, reportedly experienced a steep descent after the co-pilot allegedly attacked and stabbed the captain in the cockpit. Despite suffering serious injuries, Machchhar managed to activate the cockpit door release, allowing passengers and crew members to enter and intervene.
Accounts from Israeli officials and passengers indicate that the aircraft had descended thousands of metres before the situation inside the cockpit was brought under control. Passengers including Yaniv Hayun entered the cockpit and helped restrain the co-pilot, while other people on board assisted the injured captain. Two off-duty Flydubai pilots travelling on the aircraft later helped with the flight as it was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
The incident has prompted investigations involving authorities in several countries. Flydubai has described the event as an altercation in the flight deck and has urged against premature conclusions while investigators establish exactly what happened and why.
Attention has also focused on the co-pilot’s previous history. The Australia Today reported that the Omani national had previously been banned from flying by authorities in Oman over concerns surrounding alleged radical ideological views. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has separately said investigators had found personal material that he described as evidence of “Islamist radical indoctrination.” These claims remain part of an ongoing investigation, and no final determination of motive had been established in the reports.
There have also been differing accounts about what the co-pilot allegedly said during the incident. One passenger reported hearing “Allahu Akbar”, while other witnesses did not confirm hearing the phrase. When asked specifically about that claim, Netanyahu rejected the account. Israeli officials have separately made claims about alleged extremist material and statements attributed to the co-pilot, but the circumstances and motivations remain under investigation.
As the investigation continues, Captain Machchhar has become the central figure in accounts of how the aircraft was brought back under control. His actions after sustaining serious injuries have been publicly praised by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Netanyahu credited the captain with helping prevent what could have become a major aviation disaster.
Machchhar was initially treated in Saudi Arabia before being transferred to the United Arab Emirates for further medical care. The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia previously said he was in a stable condition, while subsequent reports confirmed that he remained in recovery.
On 2 October, Machchhar spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a video call. The conversation became an emotional moment for the injured captain, who told Modi that he had realised he needed to get back up and act because the lives of passengers were at risk.
During the conversation, Machchhar also told Modi that he regularly recites the Hanuman Chalisa when he is in pain and that he continued reciting it during the frightening ordeal aboard the aircraft. He described the Prime Minister’s call as a source of pride while continuing his recovery.
Modi told Machchhar that his courage, composure and presence of mind had helped save many lives and said that people across India were praying for his recovery. The Prime Minister had also publicly praised the captain following the incident, describing his actions as an example of exceptional courage.
The captain’s response during the emergency has attracted international attention because he continued to act despite his injuries. According to accounts cited by Israeli officials, his decision to release the cockpit door created an opportunity for passengers and crew to intervene at a critical moment.
Machchhar is an experienced commercial pilot with nearly 10,000 hours of flying experience. He previously spent about 11 years with Indian airline SpiceJet before joining Flydubai in 2022. His aviation career and actions during the incident have since brought widespread attention in India, Israel and the wider international aviation community.
The full circumstances surrounding the attack, including the co-pilot’s background, the sequence of events inside the cockpit and the motive behind the alleged assault, remain subject to investigation. Authorities and Flydubai have cautioned against drawing definitive conclusions before those inquiries are completed.
For now, the focus remains on Machchhar’s recovery after an extraordinary emergency that placed everyone aboard Flight FZ1073 in danger. His conversation with Modi has also provided a personal insight into how the injured captain coped during the incident, including the role his faith played while he fought to remain focused on protecting those on board.
