Indian captain Smit Machchhar has emerged at the centre of a dramatic Flydubai emergency after reports said he fought with a co-pilot during a violent cockpit confrontation on a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight, before the aircraft diverted safely to Saudi Arabia.
Who Is Smit Machchhar, Indian National And FlyDubai's Pilot
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) September 30, 2026
How the Indian Pilot in Command, Smit Machchhar, fought with his Omani co-pilot and saved the Flydubai flight from crashing during an unprecedented mid-air scare.https://t.co/D4DrGJ1axt
Flydubai Flight FZ1073 landed at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk on Wednesday, September 30, after transmitting emergency signals and making a sharp descent. Both pilots were injured and taken to hospital, while all passengers were reported safe.
The most serious allegation — that the co-pilot deliberately tried to take control of or crash the aircraft — remains under investigation and has not been formally established by Flydubai or Saudi authorities.
Flydubai flight diverted after cockpit emergency
FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv when the emergency developed.
Saudi airport authorities said air traffic control in Tabuk received an emergency landing request at 8:44 a.m. local time. Emergency teams were mobilised and the aircraft landed safely at 9:45 a.m..
According to Saudi Gazette, citing the airport operator, the captain and co-pilot were found with injuries and taken to hospital. Passengers were assisted inside the terminal while onward travel was arranged.
Smit Machchhar identified as Indian captain
Multiple reports have identified the pilot-in-command as Smit Machchhar, an Indian national who previously spent more than a decade with SpiceJet before joining Flydubai in 2022.
His professional background reportedly includes roughly 9,750 flying hours on Boeing 737 aircraft, including more than 6,400 hours as pilot-in-command. He also served as a line training captain during his earlier career.
Reports say Machchhar became involved in a physical struggle with the first officer inside the cockpit. The co-pilot has been described by some outlets as an Omani national, although Flydubai has not publicly confirmed either pilot’s nationality.
Reports allege attempted takeover of aircraft
Israeli media, citing officials, reported that the co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar and attempted to interfere with control of the aircraft.
Some passenger accounts described shouting, blood near the cockpit and a chaotic scene during the incident. Reports also said other Flydubai crew members travelling aboard the aircraft helped bring the situation under control.
Flydubai later confirmed that an altercation occurred on the flight deck and said travelling Flydubai crew secured the aircraft.
However, the airline has not confirmed claims that the confrontation was an intentional attempt to crash the plane. The motive remains under investigation.
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7500 signal triggered hijacking fears
Flight-tracking reports indicate the aircraft transmitted transponder code 7500, the aviation code associated with unlawful interference, as well as the general emergency code 7700.
The signals prompted fears of a possible hijacking and Israeli fighter aircraft were reportedly scrambled while authorities tracked the flight.
The security response was similar in urgency to other cockpit-related incidents, including a Frontier Airlines diversion involving an alleged attempt to reach the cockpit.
Aircraft lost altitude rapidly
Flight-tracking data shows FZ1073 made a steep descent during the emergency. Published figures vary, with some reports putting the aircraft’s drop at roughly 14,000 to 15,000 feet within about a minute to 90 seconds.
Investigators will need flight-data and cockpit-voice recordings to establish exactly what caused the descent and who was controlling the aircraft at each stage.
All passengers safe as investigation continues
Flydubai said everyone aboard was safe and accounted for and dispatched replacement aircraft to assist passengers and crew.
The incident comes amid heightened sensitivity around aviation security, where cockpit access or unlawful interference can trigger immediate emergency procedures. A previous United Airlines security-related emergency landing similarly showed how quickly crews and authorities respond when an onboard threat is suspected.
The confirmed facts are that FZ1073 suffered a serious cockpit altercation, both pilots were injured, emergency signals were transmitted and the aircraft landed safely in Tabuk. Whether Smit Machchhar prevented a deliberate attempt to crash the flight remains a central question for investigators.
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