El Mundo1 hour agoWorld2 min readSpain

Indian Flydubai captain avoided tragedy after being stabbed by Omani co-pilot

Quick Look

Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, avoided a possible crash after being stabbed by the Omani co-pilot on a Flydubai flight between Dubai and Tel Aviv.
The plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the intervention of passengers and crew.
Machchhar was hospitalized and praised by the prime ministers of India and Israel.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

The flight operated between Dubai and Tel Aviv, a common route for Flydubai. Captain Smit Machchhar had over 9,750 flight hours and previous experience with SpiceJet. Israeli authorities initially feared a kidnapping and mobilized fighter jets.

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An Indian airline captain was at the controls of a Flydubai flight on Wednesday when the co-pilot stabbed him in an apparent attempt to crash the plane. His actions to avoid the tragedy have received praise from various political leaders.

Captain Smit Machchhar, a native of Mumbai, was seriously injured as several passengers burst into the cabin and subdued the attacker, while the Boeing 737 rapidly lost altitude, according to witnesses and Israeli authorities.

The flight, with 174 people on board, covered the route between Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, and Tel Aviv, in Israel, and had to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, in northwest Saudi Arabia.

Machchhar was taken to a hospital and was in stable condition, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said Wednesday night, adding that its officials were in contact with the pilot's family and Saudi authorities.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called Machchhar a "hero." "In the face of the most extreme danger and despite being seriously injured, he demonstrated immense courage and unwavering determination to protect the lives of others. His bravery helped save hundreds of lives and averted a great tragedy," Modi wrote in X.

Few public details are known about Machchhar, but according to his LinkedIn profile, he has been working for Flydubai for around four years. Before joining the airline, he spent 11 years at SpiceJet, an Indian low-cost carrier, where he served as a senior commander and line instructor captain. According to his profile, he has accumulated more than 9,750 flight hours.

The Israeli authorities mobilized fighter jets due to the possibility that it was a kidnapping. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacker, an Omani national, was detained in Saudi Arabia, where he was being interrogated. At the moment it is not clear what his motive was.

Netanyahu praised Machchhar's "extraordinary bravery" in a post on

"He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationalities," Netanyahu wrote.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

Aviation authorities in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia will review cabin access protocols on Flydubai and other Gulf airlines flights.
Likely · Within weeks
An official investigation will be opened in Saudi Arabia into the Omani attacker, with possible extradition or local prosecution.
Possible · Within months

Open Questions

What was the attacker's exact motive for trying to take control of the plane?
Was there any prior link between the attacker and the crew or airline?
What security measures will be reviewed after this incident on the routes between the Gulf and Israel?