NEW DELHI: An Indian pilot has been identified as the captain who helped prevent a flydubai passenger plane from crashing after his co-pilot allegedly tried to take control of the aircraft during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, according to Israeli media reports and an Israeli journalist.The Indian pilot has been identified as Captain Smit Machchhar, based in Dubai, who intervened to stop his Omani co-pilot allegedly trying to take control of the aircraft and crash it.The Indian captain was stabbed repeatedly and drenched in blood, according to various witness reports and officials.Machchhar is an experienced commercial pilot with more than 13 years of flying experience on Boeing 737 aircraft. He has been a captain with flydubai since June 2022, having previously spent 11 years with SpiceJet, where he served as a senior commander and Line Training Captain.During his time at SpiceJet, Machchhar reportedly flew more than 9,500 hours, including over 6,400 hours as pilot-in-command, and served as a Line Training Captain from November 2020 to June 2022. His experience includes pilot training and mentoring, crew resource management, flight standards and compliance, and B737 NG and MAX operations.The incident unfolded aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073 on Wednesday, with the Boeing 737 sending emergency signals before making an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The flight was carrying around 180 Israeli passengers, all of whom were reported safe.Also read: Passengers recall harrowing ordeal on flight that nearly crashed
What happened inside the cockpit
The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv was flying over Jordan when it transmitted an emergency signal, followed by another signal indicating possible unlawful interference.Israeli officials said the emergency signals followed a physical altercation between the two pilots. Reuters reported that the co-pilot was believed to have stabbed the captain before cabin crew entered the cockpit. Both pilots were later hospitalised after the aircraft landed in Tabuk.Israeli media reports said the suspected attacker attempted to take control of the aircraft and force it into a descent. Passengers reportedly heard screaming and saw blood inside the cockpit.Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft plunging rapidly from around 34,000 feet to about 20,000 feet, with Reuters reporting a drop of nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds before the aircraft stabilised.The aircraft was initially treated as a possible hijacking, prompting Israeli fighter jets to be scrambled. The Israeli prime minister’s office later said the incident was not believed to have been a hijacking.Israeli media reports have described the incident as a possible attempted suicide or deliberate crash, while Israeli officials cited by Reuters said they were assessing it as a possible attempted “terror attack”. Reuters also reported that officials did not believe the incident was related to a mental-health issue.Later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pilots became involved in a physical altercation as the flight approached Israel. “During the flight as they approached the country one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot,” Netanyahu said in a video address.“Apparently he tried to crash the plane with its occupants.” Netanyahu added “almost all” passengers were Israelis, with some passengers and crew members breaking into the cockpit and subduing the attacker. “I spoke with one of the Israeli passengers. He told me that the plane went into a spin and began to dive. He told me that somehow he managed to break into the cockpit with one of the crew members and together they neutralized the stabbing pilot while he was trying to sabotage the aircraft’s systems,” Netanyahu said. “Another air crew that was on the plane entered the cockpit and managed to stabilize the plane,” he added. He also praised those who intervened, saying: “I salute these heroes who showed exceptional resourcefulness and courage.
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They saved many lives and prevented a major disaster.”Also read: Israel security minister on flydubai cockpit incident
Flydubai confirms incident
Flydubai has confirmed that Flight FZ1073 experienced an incident during its journey from Dubai to Tel Aviv and diverted to Tabuk, where it landed safely.“Our teams are working closely with the relevant authorities. Further updates will be issued as additional confirmed details become available,” the airline said.Read more: Passenger’s mother says pilot tried to kill co-pilot on Flydubai flightThe airline has not publicly confirmed the identities or nationalities of the pilots or provided details about what happened inside the cockpit.The investigation is continuing, with Israeli authorities examining the circumstances of the cockpit confrontation, the alleged attempt to take control of the aircraft and the security clearance given to the crew.
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