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Hero Pilot Airlifted to Dubai After Preventing Mid-Air Crash
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Moneycontrol•01-10-2026, 15:55
Hero Pilot Airlifted to Dubai After Preventing Mid-Air Crash
- •Captain Smit Machchhar, a flydubai pilot, was airlifted to Dubai for medical treatment after being stabbed by his co-pilot during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
- •Machchhar was attacked in the cockpit, but managed to allow passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot, who allegedly attempted to crash the aircraft.
- •Two other flydubai pilots on board landed the plane safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the incident.
- •The aircraft dropped approximately 17,000 feet within a minute, according to Flightradar24, before the situation was brought under control.
- •Israeli officials described the incident as an "attempted terrorist attack," though Prime Minister Netanyahu stated it was too early to determine motives.
Key Questions Answered
During the flight, the co-pilot allegedly stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit and attempted to crash the aircraft before passengers and crew members intervened. The flight was subsequently landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, by two other traveling flydubai pilots.
Despite being covered in blood, Captain Machchhar managed to reach the cockpit door release, which allowed passengers and crew members to rush in and overpower the co-pilot.
After initially receiving treatment at a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, Captain Smit Machchhar was airlifted to Dubai on Thursday for further medical care.
