01/10/2026
Wango NewsLine! Flydubai captain identified after first officer reportedly stabs him during Tel Aviv flight cockpit attack
The flydubai captain reportedly stabbed during a violent cockpit confrontation on Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv has been identified by Indian media as Smit Machchhar, an Indian national who has served as a flydubai Boeing 737 captain since 2022.
According to reports citing Israeli officials, the first officer is believed to have stabbed Machchhar during the cockpit confrontation. Passengers reported hearing screams and seeing blood after the cockpit door opened. Video from the aircraft appears to show Machchhar and the first officer outside the flight deck, both injured and receiving oxygen, while passengers and crew attend to them, with large amounts of blood visible inside the aircraft galley outside the flight deck.
Saudi authorities have confirmed that both pilots were injured in the altercation and taken to hospital after the aircraft landed in Tabuk. A passenger account reported by Reuters said one pilot appeared to be seriously injured while the other was slightly injured, although that assessment has not been independently verified. There is currently no confirmed public medical update on Machchhar's specific condition.
Reuters reports that an Israeli official identified the alleged attacker as an Omani national. However, conflicting reports have circulated regarding the nationalities of the two pilots, and flydubai has not publicly confirmed their identities or nationalities.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 also experienced a dramatic loss of altitude. According to Flightradar24 data cited by Reuters, the aircraft suddenly descended nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before the first emergency signal was transmitted. The aircraft subsequently transmitted the 7700 general emergency code, before switching several minutes later to 7500, the code indicating unlawful interference. The precise relationship between the descent and the cockpit confrontation remains unclear.
As the situation unfolded, cabin crew and passengers reportedly entered the flight deck and intervened, with passengers reportedly helping restrain the alleged attacker. Reports also indicate that additional pilots travelling as passengers came forward and helped stabilize the aircraft and complete the emergency landing.
The aircraft eventually diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Saudi airport authorities received the distress call at 8:44 a.m. local time, with the aircraft landing at approximately 9:45 a.m. Both injured pilots were subsequently transported to hospital.
The 7500 transmission triggered a major security response in Israel, with Israeli media reporting that fighter jets were scrambled amid initial fears that the aircraft had been hijacked.
Israeli officials have offered differing assessments as the investigation develops. Reuters reported that Israeli officials believe the incident may have been an attempted terror attack, while earlier statements from the Israeli prime minister's office said it was not believed to be a conventional hijacking. Israeli officials have also alleged that the first officer may have attempted to crash the aircraft, but the circumstances and motive remain under investigation.
The aircraft also appeared to have sustained significant damage to its tail during the emergency. Photos taken after landing in Tabuk appear to show a substantial section of the Boeing 737 MAX 8’s rudder missing, with reports indicating the damage likely occurred during the aircraft’s dramatic descent. The full cause and extent of the damage remain under investigation.
Flydubai has confirmed that an altercation occurred in the flight deck and said the aircraft was secured by on-duty crew travelling on the flight. The airline said all passengers and crew are safe and accounted for and urged against premature speculation while authorities investigate.
Flydubai confirmed an altercation occurred in the cockpit and said passengers and crew were accounted for. The airline also dispatched two aircraft to assist passengers affected by the diversion.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Sources: Reuters, AP, Hindustan Times, Saudi authorities, flydubai and Israeli media.
