‘You can’t die like this’: Indian pilot Machchhar recounts cockpit attack, fight to survive in flydubai flight
The incident occurred on September 30 aboard the Dubai flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 170 people on board
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar has recounted how he was attacked and fought for his life during a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The incident occurred on September 30, 2026, when his co-pilot, an Omani national, allegedly stabbed him with a crash axe. Machchhar initially mistook the blow for something falling from the aircraft's roof, but quickly realized he was under attack.
The co-pilot had asked to be left alone to pray, and after returning from his break, attacked Machchhar. The pilot tried to block the attack and call for help, but was knocked unconscious before opening the cockpit door. The Crown Prince of Dubai praised Machchhar as a "hero" and stated that the incident was being investigated by the National Investigation Agency as a potential "terrorist" attack.
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