Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar has recounted how he forced open the cockpit door while seriously injured during an alleged attack by his co-pilot, allowing passengers and crew to enter the cockpit and help restrain the attacker aboard a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight.
Machchhar gave the account during a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, October 2, 2026, from his hospital bed. The incident occurred aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was carrying 174 people when it was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a violent confrontation in the cockpit.
Key Highlights
- Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar says he opened the cockpit door while injured during the attack.
- Machchhar said he realised the aircraft was rapidly descending while he was lying on the cockpit floor.
- The Boeing 737 flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was carrying 174 people.
- The aircraft lost nearly 14,000 feet of altitude in less than 30 seconds, according to Reuters.
- Passengers and crew entered the cockpit and helped restrain the alleged attacker.
- Additional pilots aboard the aircraft subsequently helped take control and land the plane safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- Machchhar was injured in the confrontation and is recovering in hospital.
- Authorities in several countries are investigating the incident, while Flydubai has urged caution over speculation about the motive.
Flydubai Pilot Smit Machchhar Describes Cockpit Attack
Machchhar said he was lying injured on the cockpit floor when he realised the aircraft was going down.
Speaking to Modi, the Indian captain said he knew he had to make one final effort to open the cockpit door so that others could intervene.
He said that although he was fighting for his own life, he was also determined not to allow the passengers and crew to die.
Machchhar said his aviation experience helped him understand what was happening to the aircraft despite his injuries.
Passengers Rush Into Cockpit
Once the cockpit door was opened, passengers and crew members were able to enter and help restrain the co-pilot.
Passenger accounts cited by Reuters described screams coming from the cockpit as the aircraft rapidly descended.
Passengers subsequently intervened during the struggle, while additional pilots who were aboard the aircraft helped regain control of the Boeing 737.
The aircraft was then diverted to Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
Flydubai Flight Lost Thousands of Feet
Flight FZ1073 departed Dubai International Airport for Tel Aviv on September 30, 2026.
About two and a half hours into the journey, the aircraft experienced a serious emergency involving the cockpit crew.
Reuters reported that the aircraft descended by more than 14,000 feet in about 30 seconds before control was restored. The aircraft also transmitted an emergency signal and used the transponder code associated with unlawful interference.
The flight was eventually diverted to Tabuk, where the passengers and crew were safely taken off the aircraft.
Co-Pilot Arrested as Investigation Continues
The co-pilot was detained by Saudi authorities following the emergency landing.
Israeli officials have described the incident as a possible attempt to crash the aircraft, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also raised the possibility of a terrorist motive.
However, the exact motive has not been established publicly.
Flydubai has said the reasons behind the incident remain unknown and has urged people not to speculate while investigations continue. Authorities from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Oman and other countries have been involved in the investigation.
Netanyahu Praises Smit Machchhar
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Machchhar for his actions during the incident.
Netanyahu credited the injured captain and passengers with helping prevent what could have been a major aviation disaster.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised Machchhar during their video conversation and expressed support for his recovery.
Smit Machchhar Recovering in Hospital
Machchhar was treated following the incident and was later moved to the United Arab Emirates.
During his conversation with Modi, the pilot appeared with injuries and said he remained confident about his recovery.
He told the Indian prime minister that he had 17 years of aviation experience, including 11 years as a captain.
Reports indicate that Machchhar joined Flydubai in 2022 after previously working for India’s SpiceJet.
Flydubai Incident Raises Aviation Security Questions
The incident has raised questions about cockpit security, pilot vetting and the potential threat posed by an attacker who is already part of an aircraft’s operating crew.
Aviation security experts have noted that modern cockpit doors are designed to prevent unauthorised access, but incidents involving a member of the flight crew can create a different security challenge.
Investigators are expected to examine how the confrontation began, how the alleged attacker gained access to any weapon used, the aircraft’s security procedures and the circumstances surrounding the crew members.
Investigation Into Flydubai Flight FZ1073 Continues
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.
While officials have raised several possible explanations, no definitive public finding has yet established the motive behind the confrontation.
For now, the account from Captain Smit Machchhar provides a firsthand description of the critical moments inside the cockpit and how opening the door allowed passengers and crew to intervene.
All 174 people aboard the flight survived the incident, while investigations continue into the events that caused the aircraft to make its emergency diversion to Saudi Arabia. For more updates, follow us on X.
