Smit Machchhar, an Indian captain with flydubai, was seriously wounded in the cockpit of flight FZ1073 on September 30, 2026. Eyewitnesses and Israeli officials say he still managed to unlock the cockpit door, which let passengers and crew overpower the attacker. The airline confirms a cockpit altercation, and Saudi authorities say the co-pilot assaulted the captain. The motive is not known.
Online, the story has already gathered wrong details and wild theories. This article separates what officials have confirmed from what is only claimed. It draws on statements from flydubai, the UAE aviation regulator, Saudi authorities and the Indian government, as reported by major news outlets.
Who Is Captain Smit Machchhar?
Smit Machchhar is a Mumbai native who flies Boeing 737 jets. CNN describes him as a 39-year-old father of two. His LinkedIn profile lists about 9,750 flight hours and roughly 15 years in commercial aviation, according to i24NEWS and Ynet.
He flew for the Indian airline SpiceJet from 2011, and SpiceJet says he spent about ten years there. He joined flydubai in 2022 and also worked as a training captain, mentoring other pilots. NBC News reports that he caught the aviation bug at 19, while studying management to help grow his family’s textile business.
What Happened on Flydubai Flight FZ1073
FZ1073 was a Boeing 737 flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 passengers, mostly Israelis, according to Bloomberg and Business Today. Gulf News compiled the timeline below from Flightradar24 data and airport statements.
| Time (UAE) | Event |
|---|---|
| 7:05 AM | Flight departs Dubai and climbs to about 34,000 feet |
| 9:21 AM | Aircraft begins a steep descent, then a sharp climb and another descent |
| About 9:28 to 9:35 AM | Transponder shows code 7700 (general emergency), then 7500 (unlawful interference) |
| 9:44 AM | Tabuk air traffic control receives a distress call |
| 10:45 AM | Aircraft lands safely at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia; captain and first officer taken to hospital |
| 6:40 PM | Passengers leave Tabuk on a replacement aircraft and later reach Tel Aviv |
Two points stand out. First, the jet never landed in Israel. It landed in Tabuk, and a replacement aircraft carried passengers onward, which is why some early reports confused the airports. Second, Gulf News stresses that tracking data shows how the aircraft moved but cannot explain what happened inside the cockpit.
How Smit Machchhar Helped Stop the Attack
Accounts of the captain’s role come mainly from passengers. Passenger Yaniv Hayoun told the Israeli prime minister that the wounded captain unlocked the cockpit door before losing consciousness. A passenger named Shota Musayev, a dentist, told CNN and the Associated Press that the captain opened the door so people could enter. Musayev then treated him and described heavy blood loss.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the captain fought back, opened the door, and let passengers and crew overpower the attacker. Flydubai gives a shorter account. It says on-duty flydubai crew travelling on the flight secured the aircraft, diverted it and landed it safely at Tabuk. Some outlets call those crew members off-duty, so reports differ on that detail.
Why the Cockpit Door Matters So Much
Airlines worldwide have locked and reinforced cockpit doors since the attacks of 2001. The aim is simple. Nobody in the cabin should be able to force their way to the controls. That rule protects a plane from threats outside the cockpit.
It also creates a gap. If danger starts inside the cockpit, cabin crew cannot easily step in, because the door is built to stay shut. Only someone inside can open it. That is why the reported act of the captain unlocking the door, while badly hurt, matters so much. It gave help a way in.
The transponder code 7500 shows how seriously a crew treats such an event. It is the international signal for unlawful interference. Pilots use it to warn air traffic control without speaking. Gulf News notes that the code appeared on this flight, but no authority has yet said what caused it.
Confirmed, Claimed and Unknown
The table below sorts the main facts by who has said them. This is the most reliable way to read the story while the investigation continues.
| Status | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmed | An altercation occurred in the flight deck, and crew secured and landed the plane at Tabuk | flydubai |
| Confirmed | A security incident was brought under control and crew members were injured | UAE General Civil Aviation Authority |
| Confirmed | Preliminary findings show an assault on the captain by the co-pilot | Saudi Ministry of Interior, with a UAE security team |
| Confirmed | UAE prosecutors are investigating, including any link to terrorism or prior planning | UAE Attorney General |
| Confirmed | Flydubai has suspended flights to and from Israel during the investigation | flydubai |
| Claimed | The co-pilot is an Omani national who tried to crash the plane | Israeli Prime Minister; two US officials also said the attacker is from Oman |
| Claimed | The attacker was radicalised, and the event was a terror attempt | Israeli officials, with no evidence published |
| Claimed | The attack is linked to Iran | US President, per CNN; Israeli officials say they see no indication so far |
| Unknown | Motive, planning, the weapon, and how the co-pilot was assigned to this flight | No official finding yet |
Notice how many entries are only claims. Several serious allegations come from political leaders, not from the investigators who hold the evidence. Flydubai says the reasons and motives are unknown and has urged people to avoid premature speculation. Treat the claimed items as allegations until the UAE publishes its findings.
The co-pilot has not been named publicly. At the time of reporting, Bloomberg said Oman’s government had not responded to its request for comment. One person’s alleged actions should not be read as a statement about a country or a community.
What Happens Next in the Investigation
Several inquiries are now running side by side. The UAE aviation regulator is reviewing operational and security aspects. UAE prosecutors have a separate criminal inquiry, and the UAE says it has jurisdiction because the aircraft is registered there. Saudi security services carried out the first questioning in Tabuk. The Saudi interior ministry says the two pilots have since moved to the UAE.
Israeli agencies are also looking into the case, according to Axios and Israeli media. Because the final findings will come from different bodies, details may shift over the coming days.
One question will draw close attention. Axios reports that investigators will ask how an Omani national came to work a flight to Israel. Oman and Israel have no diplomatic ties. Jerusalem Post sources say the co-pilot held no second nationality. The UAE has not yet explained its crew assignment rules in public.
What the Indian Government Has Said
India has treated the captain as a hero. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised his valour and said it helped save hundreds of lives. Modi also spoke with the captain’s wife and parents, according to government sources quoted by ANI and Business Today.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh said on September 30 that he was stable and being treated in Tabuk. On October 1, the Ministry of External Affairs said he had moved to Abu Dhabi for more treatment. It said he was in good health and recovering well. India’s ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, met the family in Dubai and pledged the government’s full support. The ministry added that it salutes his valour and courage.
Tributes came from the aviation world too. SpiceJet, his former employer, called him a hero and praised his selfless actions. For many Indians living in the UAE, where flydubai is a major employer of Indian pilots and crew, the story has hit close to home.
Online Claims Checked
Social platforms, including threads on Reddit, quickly filled with praise for the captain. They also filled with confusion, questions about airport security, and conspiracy theories. Here is how the most common claims stand against the public record.
| Claim online | What the record shows |
|---|---|
| The captain unlocked the door while wounded | Reported by passengers and the Israeli prime minister. Flydubai has not described this detail. |
| The pilot was Ukrainian or Emirati | Early confusion. The stabbed captain is an Indian national, per the Indian government. |
| Off-duty pilots landed the plane | Flydubai says on-duty crew travelling on the flight did it. Some outlets say off-duty. |
| The plane landed in Israel | It landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Passengers flew on to Tel Aviv later. |
| A weapon slipped through airport security | No official statement yet on the weapon or how it got aboard. Aviation and security aspects are under review. |
| Politicians knew about it in advance | No evidence has been published. UAE prosecutors are checking whether any planning was involved. |
Calls to wait for verified results are sensible. Flydubai and the UAE aviation regulator both asked the public not to circulate unofficial information.
Be Careful With Fundraisers
A fundraising link has been shared in online threads. We could not verify any official or family-approved fundraiser for the captain. Fake campaigns often appear after viral news. Wait for a link confirmed by the family, flydubai or the Indian authorities before you donate.
What This Means for Travellers
Flydubai says it will suspend flights to and from Israel while authorities establish the facts. Emirates has also suspended its codeshare flights with flydubai to Tel Aviv. Passengers heading to Tel Aviv will not be accepted at their starting point. Those already en route will get help finishing their trips.
If you are an Indian expat in the UAE with a booking involving Israel, check with your airline now. We found no reports of changes to other flydubai routes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Smit Machchhar?
He is an Indian airline captain from Mumbai who flies for flydubai. He previously flew for SpiceJet for about ten years. He was the captain of flight FZ1073 on September 30, 2026.
How is Smit Machchhar’s health now?
On October 1, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said he had been moved to Abu Dhabi for more treatment. It said he is in good health and recovering well. Earlier reports said he had surgery and was stable.
What happened on flydubai flight FZ1073?
Flydubai confirms an altercation in the flight deck. Saudi authorities say the co-pilot assaulted the captain. The aircraft made an emergency landing at Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, and passengers later flew to Tel Aviv on a replacement plane.
Was flight FZ1073 hijacked?
The aircraft briefly sent the code for unlawful interference. However, no authority has published a finding that it was a hijacking. The UAE Attorney General is investigating, including whether any terrorist link or planning existed.
Who attacked the captain?
Saudi authorities say the co-pilot did. Israeli officials say he is an Omani national. He has not been publicly named, and no motive has been officially confirmed.
Has flydubai stopped flying to Israel?
Yes, for now. Flydubai suspended flights to and from Israel while the investigation continues. Emirates has also paused its codeshare flights with flydubai to Tel Aviv.
Conclusion
The core of the story is well supported. A flydubai captain was badly hurt in the cockpit, the plane landed safely, and passengers and crew helped regain control. India has honoured the captain’s courage, and he is recovering. Everything about motive and planning remains unproven. Until investigators publish their findings, rely on official statements and verified reporting.
