Indian Pilot Hailed as ‘True Hero’ After Foiling Mid-Air Hijack Attempt on Dubai-Tel Aviv Flight
In a chilling mid-air security crisis that could have ended in a catastrophic disaster, Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar has been lauded as a “true hero” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Captain Machchhar, a former SpiceJet employee now flying for flydubai, demonstrated exceptional fortitude by opening the cockpit door to save his aircraft after being stabbed by his own co-pilot mid-flight.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening, September 30, aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, which was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Mid-flight, the Omani co-pilot allegedly launched a brutal assault on Captain Machchhar with the intent of crashing the aircraft.
A Struggle for Survival
Despite suffering serious stab wounds, Captain Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door before collapsing. This critical decision provided the opening necessary for crew members and courageous passengers to rush inside and subdue the attacker.
The situation was further stabilized by two off-duty flydubai pilots who happened to be on board. These pilots took charge of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and executed an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, ensuring the safety of all 174 people on board.
Prime Minister Netanyahu took to social media to express his profound gratitude to the Indian captain. “My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery,” Netanyahu wrote. “Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker—preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster. He saved the lives of 174 people… He is a true hero.”
Passengers Turn Saviors
The heroism was not limited to the flight crew. Netanyahu also met with a passenger named Yaniv Hayoun, who was instrumental in reclaiming the cockpit. Hayoun recounted the terrifying scene, explaining that when he entered the flight deck, he found one pilot on the floor and the attacker incapacitated by the initial struggle.
“I called out to a bunch of Israelis on board, and two other guys came over. We pinned him down,” Hayoun told the Prime Minister. Remarkably, when asked how he knew how to handle the aircraft controls, Hayoun revealed he had learned the basics from watching the popular television show Air Crash Investigations.
Captain Machchhar’s family has since traveled to Tabuk to be by his side as he recovers from his injuries. Reports indicate that Machchhar’s brother, who also recently joined flydubai as a pilot, has joined the family in Saudi Arabia.
Airline Response and Investigation
In the wake of the incident, flydubai has announced the suspension of its 10 daily scheduled flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv for the next six days. A company spokesperson stated that this temporary measure is intended to facilitate a thorough investigation by government authorities and aviation regulators.
“We remain in close coordination with government authorities, regulators and airport stakeholders and will review the suspension as more information becomes available,” the airline noted in a statement, expressing apologies to passengers for the disruption. Meanwhile, Saudi officials have taken the Omani co-pilot into custody and are actively questioning him as the probe into this severe security breach continues.
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