Flydubai pilot says he fought to save passengers after co-pilot attack

Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, October 2, 2026 — Indian pilot Capt. Smit Machchhar has said he was determined to prevent further deaths after his co-pilot attacked him aboard a Flydubai flight and the aircraft began rapidly losing altitude.

Machchhar was speaking to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi by video call while recovering from injuries sustained during the incident.

“I was lying on the floor injured but I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside,” Machchhar said. “Others came in and also played a role in controlling the situation. I was of course fighting for my own life but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die.”

Flydubai flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv early Wednesday when it plunged more than 17,000 feet (5,200 metres) about two and a half hours into the journey.

The aircraft initially sent an emergency signal to air traffic controllers before transmitting squawk code 7500, an international code indicating a hijacking.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said one pilot had stabbed the other before apparently attempting to crash the aircraft.

Passengers overpowered the attacker, allowing two reserve pilots who were travelling on the aircraft to take control and land safely at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia at 6:58 a.m. local time.

Machchhar was taken to a hospital in Tabuk and later airlifted to Abu Dhabi. He is reported to be in stable condition.

Netanyahu told Fox News that the attacker was an Omani national and said investigators believed he had undergone what he described as “Islamist radical indoctrination.” He also said the attacker had called out to the crew to kill him after being restrained by passengers and crew, which Netanyahu interpreted as evidence that he was suicidal.

The United Arab Emirates has launched an investigation into the incident, including whether it was connected to terrorist activity or a terrorist purpose, according to the country's state news agency.