Capt. Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot for FlyDubai, survived a stabbing by his co-pilot during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. He fought to regain control and allowed passengers to help restrain the attacker before landing the Boeing 737 in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The 182 passengers saved by Capt. Smit Machchhar's resilience
During a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Capt. Smit Machchhar was attacked and stabbed by his co-pilot, an event that sent the Boeing 737 into a steep descent. According to the report, Machchhar was knocked down and seriously injured, but he managed to open the cockpit door. This critical action allowed passengers to enter the flight deck and help restrain the assailant while the aircraft was plummeting.
The aircraft was eventually diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia for an emergency landing. In a televised video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Capt. Smit Machchhar described the desperation of the moment, stating, "I realized that if I did not get up, then passengers would lose their lives." Prime Minister Modi praised the captain's courage and presence of mind for averting a potential disaster.
17 years of flight experience and the Hanuman Chalisa
Capt. smit Machchhar credited both his extensive professional history and his faith for his ability to survive the attack. He has been flying for 17 years and has served as a captain for 11 of those years. As reported by the Associated Press, Machchhar spent 11 years with the Indian carrier SpiceJet, where he logged over 9,750 flying hours as a senior commander and line training captain before joining FlyDubai four years ago.
This deep familiarity with aviation allowed Machchhar to sense the aircraft's steep descent even while he was incapacitated on the floor. He also noted that he recited the Hanuman Chalisa—a Hindu devotional hymn dedicated to the monkey god Lord Hanuman—to find the strength and courage necessary to fight back against his attacker.
The Omani national arrested in Tabuk
The assailant, identified by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an Omani national, was arrested by Saudi authorities following the emergency landing in Tabuk. The attacker is currently undergoing interrogation in Saudi Arabia to determine the reasons behind the assault on Capt. Smit Machchhar.
While the aircraft was secured by on-duty crew members,a regional official noted that some of the crew involved in the diversion were pilots in training. The coordinated effort between the injureed captain, the trainees, and the passengers ensured that the Boeing 737 landed safely despite the chaos in the cockpit.
Why Mainland Air's training doesn't cover cockpit stabbings
The incident highlights a stark gap in aviation safety protocols regarding internal threats. Philip Kean, the CEO of Mainland Air—the New Zealand flight school where Capt. Smit Machchhar trained—explained that while pilots are taught how to take over if a crew member becomes incapacitated, these scenarios typically involve medical emergencies rather than violent assaults.
Kean told the Associated Press that there is effectively nothing in the training handbook for dealing with a stabbing by a colleague. This reflects a broader industry assumption that the cockpit is a space of mutual trust, leaving pilots vulnerable to rare but catastrophic interpersonal violence during flight.
The missing motive behind the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv attack
Despite the arrest of the Omani national, the specific motivation for the attack remains unknown. A security expert cited in the report questioned whether the incident was a targeted terror attack, given the flight's destination of Tel Aviv and the attempted hijacking nature of the steep descent.
The report currently relies on statements from Israeli and Saudi officials, but it does not provide a response from the Omani government or the attacker's legal representation. Whether this was a personal psychotic break or a coordinated political act remains the primary unanswered question in the investigation.
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