A routine flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv turned into a terrifying fight for survival on Wednesday when violence reportedly erupted inside the cockpit.

At the centre of the extraordinary incident was an Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, who was reportedly attacked and stabbed by his co-pilot as Flydubai Flight FZ1073 was flying towards Israel.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was carrying around 180 people when the incident unfolded. The aircraft eventually diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia and landed safely, with passengers and crew accounted for.

What happened inside those crucial minutes is still being investigated. But reports indicate that the captain was injured during the confrontation, passengers intervened, and an additional Flydubai crew already travelling on the aircraft eventually took control and brought the plane safely to the ground.

A Flight That Suddenly Turned Into a Nightmare

Flight FZ1073 departed Dubai International Airport bound for Tel Aviv on September 30.

According to flight-tracking data and reports from passengers, the situation changed dramatically during the journey.

The aircraft experienced a dramatic loss of altitude and transmitted emergency signals. Flight-tracking data showed the Boeing 737 dropping more than 14,000 feet in less than a minute during the incident before changing course towards Saudi Arabia.

Passengers later described hearing shouting and a violent confrontation near the cockpit.

Then came the terrifying revelation: one pilot had apparently attacked the other.

The Indian Captain at the Centre of the Crisis

The captain involved in the incident has been identified by multiple Indian media outlets as Smit Machchhar, an Indian national and experienced Boeing 737 pilot.

Machchhar has been a captain with Flydubai since June 2022 after spending around 11 years with SpiceJet.

According to reports citing his professional profile, he has approximately 9,750 hours of flying experience on Boeing 737 aircraft and previously served as a senior commander and line training captain at SpiceJet.

His extensive experience would have been crucial in dealing with an emergency that unfolded in one of the most critical places on an aircraft — the flight deck.

He Was Attacked — But He Fought Back

According to reports from Israeli officials and passengers, the co-pilot attacked and stabbed Machchhar during the flight and allegedly attempted to interfere with the aircraft’s controls.

The exact sequence of events remains under investigation, and Flydubai has cautioned against premature speculation about the underlying reasons for the incident.

However, Reuters reported that the wounded captain managed to open the cockpit door before collapsing, allowing passengers to enter and intervene. A passenger then helped subdue the attacker.

What followed was a remarkable example of people responding to an unfolding emergency in the air.

The Plane Plunged More Than 14,000 Feet

Perhaps the clearest indication of how serious the situation was came from the aircraft’s flight data.

According to flight-tracking information reported by Reuters, the aircraft was cruising at around 34,000 feet when it suddenly dropped more than 14,000 feet in approximately 30 seconds.

For the passengers aboard, this was no longer simply an argument between two crew members.

Something had gone seriously wrong inside the cockpit.

Passengers Rushed Towards the Cockpit

According to passenger accounts reported by Reuters, people at the front of the aircraft realised that something was seriously wrong and moved towards the cockpit.

When the cockpit door opened, passengers reportedly found the injured captain on the floor and the other pilot near the aircraft’s controls.

A passenger then helped subdue the attacker.

Among those on board were also off-duty pilots. Once the situation was brought under control, an additional Flydubai crew travelling on the aircraft took over the aircraft and helped bring it safely to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia.

What began as a terrifying cockpit struggle ended with passengers and crew working together to bring everyone safely back to the ground.

“You Saved Us All”

One of the most emotional pieces of footage to emerge from the flight shows passengers surrounding the injured pilot after the attacker had been subdued.

Passengers can be heard praising the injured pilot and telling him that he had saved them.

Blood can be seen on the injured pilot and elsewhere in the cabin, while passengers stand guard near the cockpit.

One passenger is heard saying:

“You saved the plane.”

The footage offers a glimpse into the chaos passengers experienced before the aircraft was finally brought under control.

🎥 Watch the NDTV video report:
NDTV — Flydubai cockpit brawl: Indian captain fought co-pilot to prevent plane crash, says report

The Aircraft Was Eventually Brought Under Control

After the confrontation was brought under control, the aircraft changed course and headed towards Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia.

Flydubai confirmed that an altercation had occurred in the flight deck and said the aircraft was successfully secured by on-duty Flydubai crew travelling on the flight.

The aircraft subsequently landed safely at Tabuk Airport.

All passengers and crew were reported safe and accounted for.

A Heroic Effort — But a Collective One

There is a natural temptation to reduce this story to one dramatic sentence: an Indian pilot fought a hijacker and saved a plane.

The reality is more complicated — and perhaps even more impressive.

The available reporting suggests that several people played a role in preventing the situation from becoming a catastrophe.

• The captain reportedly resisted the attack despite being injured.
• Passengers realised something was wrong and moved towards the cockpit.
• A passenger helped subdue the attacking pilot.
• Off-duty pilots travelling on the aircraft assisted.
• An additional Flydubai crew took control of the aircraft.
• The aircraft was diverted and landed safely in Saudi Arabia.

It was a collective effort under extraordinary circumstances.

But Captain Smit Machchhar’s reported resistance after being attacked has understandably made him one of the central figures in this remarkable survival story.

What Happened to the Suspected Attacker?

The co-pilot was taken into custody after the aircraft landed in Tabuk, according to reports.

Both pilots were reportedly taken to hospital after the aircraft landed.

The motive behind the confrontation remains under investigation.

Some Israeli officials have described the incident as an attempted attack and alleged that the co-pilot intended to crash the aircraft. However, Flydubai has said that the underlying reasons for the incident remain unknown and has urged people to avoid premature speculation.

That distinction is important. The investigation will ultimately have to establish exactly what happened inside the cockpit and why.

But the immediate outcome is clear: the aircraft landed safely and the passengers survived.

From SpiceJet to Flydubai

For many Indians, another remarkable part of the story is Machchhar’s professional journey.

Before becoming a Flydubai captain, Machchhar spent more than a decade flying with India’s SpiceJet.

Reports say he joined SpiceJet in 2011 and later became a senior commander and line training captain, helping train and check other pilots.

He joined Flydubai in June 2022 as a direct-entry captain. His professional profile reportedly lists thousands of hours flying Boeing 737 aircraft.

That experience was put to an unimaginable test on Wednesday.

An Indian Pilot at the Centre of an Extraordinary Survival Story

There is still much that investigators need to establish about exactly what happened inside the cockpit.

But the broad sequence is already extraordinary.

• A passenger aircraft carrying around 180 people experienced a violent cockpit incident.
• The captain was reportedly attacked and injured.
• The aircraft suffered a dramatic loss of altitude.
• Passengers intervened.
• Other trained pilots assisted.
• An additional Flydubai crew took control.
• The aircraft was diverted to Saudi Arabia.
• Everyone aboard was ultimately brought safely to the ground.

And at the centre of it all was an Indian captain who, according to multiple reports, fought back after being attacked.

For now, investigators must determine exactly what happened and why.

But for the passengers who walked away from Flight FZ1073, one thing will likely remain unforgettable:

When the cockpit became the most dangerous place on the aircraft, the people inside and around it fought to bring everyone home.

And among them was an Indian pilot named Smit Machchhar.

Watch the Videos

• NDTV: Flydubai cockpit brawl — Indian captain fought co-pilot to prevent plane crash
• NDTV: Flydubai pilot identified as Indian
• NDTV: “You saved us all” — passengers praise injured pilot

Read More

• Reuters: Pilot brawl, then a rapid descent: passengers recount chaos on Flydubai flight
• Hindustan Times: Smit Machchhar identified as Indian national and former SpiceJet pilot
• Al Jazeera: What happened on the diverted Flydubai flight?

Note: The incident is still under investigation. Details concerning the motive and exact sequence of events should be treated as preliminary until confirmed by the airline and relevant authorities.