Injured Flydubai captain moved to Abu Dhabi for further treatment
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar was transferred to Abu Dhabi for continued medical care after being attacked during an altercation aboard a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight. The aircraft diverted to Tabuk, where he initially received treatment, while authorities continued examining the incident.
Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar has been moved to Abu Dhabi for continued medical attention and recovery, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said. Machchhar, an Indian national, was attacked during an altercation inside the cockpit of a Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30, 2026. The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where he received initial treatment.
The ministry said it was closely monitoring his health. India’s ambassador in the United Arab Emirates met Machchhar in hospital and enquired about his wellbeing, while also meeting his family and assuring them of support. The supplied report said the co-pilot stabbed Machchhar during the flight in an attempt to crash the aircraft.
Passengers and crew helped the captain prevent what could have been a major disaster. Authorities were still determining the motive behind the attack. The incident involved a flight carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children, according to the report.
Machchhar was praised by Indian President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United States President Donald Trump for his actions during the emergency. The source did not provide further details about the co-pilot or any charges.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.