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Indian Pilot Hailed Hero After Foiling Mid-Air Hijack Attempt on Flydubai Flight
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News18•30-09-2026, 23:28
Indian Pilot Hailed Hero After Foiling Mid-Air Hijack Attempt on Flydubai Flight
- •An Indian-origin pilot, Smit Machhar, was stabbed multiple times while preventing a mentally unstable Omani co-pilot from hijacking a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Israel.
- •Passengers recounted the terrifying ordeal, with one Israeli citizen stating, "We survived because of the Indian pilot."
- •The Omani co-pilot attempted a suicide mission, trying to crash the plane, but passengers intervened to subdue him.
- •Despite severe injuries, the Indian pilot maintained control of the aircraft, allowing passengers to enter the cockpit and overpower the attacker.
- •The flight made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, where the injured pilot received medical attention and the hijacker was arrested.
Key Questions Answered
Despite being stabbed and severely bleeding, Indian pilot Smit Machhar fought the deranged Omani co-pilot inside the cockpit for several minutes, using one hand to stop the attacker while trying to control the plane with the other.
After regaining control of the cockpit, the plane was diverted to Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia for an emergency landing, where the injured Indian pilot was hospitalized and the attacker was handed over to the local police.
Upon arriving safely at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, passengers broke down in tears, thanked God, and openly praised the Indian pilot's incredible bravery, with one passenger stating that everyone survived because of him.
