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Hero Pilot Smit Machchhar Sent Secret SOS During Violent Cockpit Attack on Flydubai Flight
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News18•01-10-2026, 08:20
Hero Pilot Smit Machchhar Sent Secret SOS During Violent Cockpit Attack on Flydubai Flight
- •Captain Smit Machchhar, injured in a violent cockpit confrontation on a Flydubai flight, may have used the aircraft's transponder to send an emergency signal to air traffic control (ATC).
- •US Senator and FAA commercial pilot Tim Sheehy suggested Machchhar changed the aircraft's "squawk" code while fighting off the co-pilot, effectively sending an emergency signal.
- •Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft initially transmitted emergency code 7700 (general emergency) before changing to 7500 (unlawful interference/hijacking).
- •Sheehy described Machchhar simultaneously trying to control the aircraft, fight off an attack, communicate the emergency, and open the cockpit door.
- •The incident involved a dramatic loss of altitude from 34,000 feet to 20,000 feet before the aircraft stabilized and was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Key Questions Answered
According to US Senator and FAA commercial pilot Tim Sheehy, Captain Smit Machchhar may have used the aircraft’s transponder to change the squawk code while fighting off a knife attack. This allowed him to silently signal an emergency to air traffic controllers.
Flight-tracking data showed that the aircraft transmitted squawk code 7700, which indicates a general emergency, before subsequently changing to 7500, the internationally recognized code used for unlawful interference or hijacking.
The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely following the dramatic mid-air incident. Both pilots were subsequently taken to the hospital, with Captain Machchhar reported to be in stable condition.
