Capt. Smit Machchhar, the pilot of FlyDubai flight 1073, spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, following a mid-air incident where his co-pilot allegedly stabbed him and attempted to crash the aircraft. During the video call from his hospital bed, Machchhar described how he managed to open the cockpit door to allow others to intervene after he was injured. The flight, which was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Sept. 30, was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, following the altercation.
The incident began approximately two and a half hours into the flight while the Boeing 737 was carrying 174 people. According to flight data, the aircraft plunged more than 17,000 feet (5,200 meters) and broadcast a "squawk 7500" signal, the international code for a hijacking. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the co-pilot stabbed Machchhar before attempting to crash the plane. Two reserve pilots traveling as passengers took control of the aircraft and landed it at Tabuk Airport at 6:58 a.m. local time.
Machchhar, an Indian national with 17 years of flying experience, told Prime Minister Modi that he felt the aircraft descending while he was on the cockpit floor. He stated that he utilized a "last push" to unlock the door, allowing people to enter and subdue the attacker. Machchhar sustained multiple stab wounds and was initially treated in Saudi Arabia before being airlifted to Abu Dhabi. The co-pilot was also hospitalized for unspecified injuries before being transferred to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday, Oct. 1, for questioning by Israeli, Emirati, and Saudi authorities.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said on Friday that the attacker had undergone "Islamist radicalization" and intended to crash the plane. He noted that after being subdued, the co-pilot repeatedly asked the crew to kill him. U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Thursday that the co-pilot might have links to Iran, though Netanyahu stated it was "too early to say" if there was direct Iranian involvement. Additionally, the co-pilot had reportedly been previously terminated from Oman Air for expressing extremist views. The UAE is investigating to determine if the act was linked to a specific terrorist organization.
The scale of the incident involves 174 lives saved on a single commercial jet and at least four nations—India, Israel, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia—coordinating on the subsequent investigation. For air travelers, this may result in a review of cockpit rules or vetting for flight deck crews. While Machchhar is reported to be in stable condition, he faces a period of recovery from multiple stab wounds and head injuries.
The investigation involves multi-national cooperation in responding to internal flight deck threats. The next steps in the legal process involve the continued interrogation of the co-pilot in the UAE. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that those responsible for dispatching the attacker, if anyone, would be held accountable. No specific trial dates or formal charges have been publicly announced by Emirati or Israeli authorities as of Oct. 2. Machchhar remains under medical care in Abu Dhabi, where the Indian Embassy reports he is recovering.