Pilot praised after alleged mid-flight attack on Dubai-Tel Aviv service
Captain Smit Machchhar has been praised after an alleged mid-flight stabbing by his co-pilot triggered a dangerous drop in altitude on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight. Passengers and crew helped the injured pilot regain access to the cockpit, while two pilot passengers assisted with the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Captain Smit Machchhar has been praised after an alleged attack by his co-pilot during a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight triggered an emergency and a diversion to Saudi Arabia. The incident occurred on September 30, 2026, when the co-pilot reportedly stabbed Machchhar and attempted to crash the aircraft. The plane then plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds, according to the supplied report.
Israeli officials said Machchhar, despite being injured, activated the cockpit-door release. Passengers entered the cockpit and overpowered the co-pilot, while two pilots travelling as passengers helped control the aircraft. The aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The passengers later continued to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport on a replacement aircraft. The motive for the alleged attack remained under investigation. Machchhar was recovering and receiving treatment at a hospital in Tabuk.
He had previously worked for SpiceJet for more than 11 years before joining flydubai as a captain in 2022, according to the report. The Indian pilot has been hailed as a hero by leaders including India’s President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump. A passenger who helped steady the aircraft was also praised for intervening during the crisis.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.