Stories
Flydubai Captain's Old Podcast Resurfaces After Mid-Air Attack: "Prepared for the Unexpected"
- •A podcast featuring Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar, recorded months before a mid-air attack, has resurfaced online.
- •Machchhar was attacked and stabbed by his co-pilot during Flydubai flight FZ1073, but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing intervention.
- •Off-duty pilots helped land the plane safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, while the incident remains under investigation.
- •Machchhar, with 17 years of experience, discussed his unexpected journey into aviation, India's changing airline industry, and handling emergencies.
- •His handling of the crisis earned praise from Benjamin Netanyahu, Narendra Modi, and Donald Trump.
Key Questions Answered
During Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, the co-pilot allegedly attacked and stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar in an apparent attempt to crash the aircraft. Despite his injuries, Machchhar opened the cockpit door for assistance, allowing the co-pilot to be subdued while off-duty pilots stabilized the plane and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Machchhar was originally trained in textile engineering to join his family's business, but his career path changed at age 19 after attending an aviation seminar during a management course. With his father's encouragement, he eventually traveled to New Zealand to complete his pilot training.
His handling of the dangerous mid-air cockpit crisis earned praise from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and US President Donald Trump.
