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Indian Pilot Hailed for Bravery After Foiling Mid-Air Attack on Flydubai Flight
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News18•01-10-2026, 11:48
Indian Pilot Hailed for Bravery After Foiling Mid-Air Attack on Flydubai Flight
- •Indian pilot Smit Machchhar praised for averting disaster after an alleged cockpit attack on a Dubai-Tel Aviv Flydubai flight.
- •Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu credited Machchhar for fighting back despite being stabbed by the co-pilot.
- •Passengers and crew helped overpower the co-pilot, leading to a safe emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- •All 174 passengers, including 166 Israeli nationals, were reported safe after the incident.
- •Flydubai suspended flights to and from Israel pending an investigation into the altercation; both pilots are in stable condition.
Key Questions Answered
An alleged cockpit attack by the co-pilot forced the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the aircraft suddenly plunged 17,000 feet in a minute and passengers intervened.
The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia praised injured Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for his exceptional bravery, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu credited him for fighting back against the co-pilot despite his injuries to help avert a major disaster.
Flydubai announced that all flights to and from Israel would be suspended while authorities investigate the causes behind the cockpit altercation.
