JERUSALEM, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised an Indian pilot who was stabbed during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv after a confrontation in the cockpit sent the aircraft into a rapid descent and forced an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Netanyahu identified the pilot on Wednesday as Captain Smit Machchhar and credited him, along with passengers and crew members, with helping prevent what he described as a possible disaster.
“My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery,” Netanyahu said in a social media post.
“Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster,” Netanyahu said.
He said Machchhar helped save the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals, and wished the captain a speedy recovery.
“He is a true hero,” Netanyahu said.
Pilot Stabbed During Dubai-Tel Aviv Flight
The incident occurred Wednesday aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073, which was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the emergency unfolded.
The Boeing 737 was flying over Jordan when it transmitted emergency signals, followed by a signal indicating possible unlawful interference. The aircraft then made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
The flight was carrying more than 170 passengers, most of them Israeli, according to reports. Everyone aboard was reported safe after the plane landed.
Reuters reported that the aircraft descended rapidly during the incident, dropping more than 14,000 feet in about 30 seconds before stabilizing.
The sudden descent prompted initial concerns that the aircraft could have been hijacked. Israeli authorities later said the incident was not believed to have been a hijacking.
Netanyahu Describes Cockpit Struggle
In a video address, Netanyahu said the two pilots became involved in a physical confrontation as the plane approached Israel.
“During the flight, as they approached the country, one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot,” Netanyahu said.
“Apparently he tried to crash the plane with its occupants.”
Netanyahu said he spoke with an Israeli passenger who described the aircraft going into a spin and beginning to descend.
According to Netanyahu, the passenger and a crew member managed to enter the cockpit and overpower the pilot who had allegedly attacked Machchhar.
“Another air crew member who was on the plane entered the cockpit and managed to stabilize the plane,” Netanyahu said.
The prime minister also praised the passengers and crew members who intervened.
“I salute these heroes who showed exceptional resourcefulness and courage,” Netanyahu said.
Captain Machchhar’s Aviation Career
Machchhar, who is based in Dubai, is an experienced commercial pilot with more than a decade of experience flying Boeing 737 aircraft.
He joined flydubai as a captain in June 2022 after spending about 11 years with Indian airline SpiceJet, where he served as a senior commander and line training captain.
Reports said Machchhar had accumulated thousands of hours flying Boeing 737 aircraft and had experience in pilot training, crew resource management and flight standards.
His background includes operating both Boeing 737 Next Generation and 737 MAX aircraft.
The captain was seriously injured in the confrontation and was taken to a hospital after the aircraft landed in Tabuk. The co-pilot was also hospitalized.
Investigation Continues
The co-pilot, an Omani national, was identified in reports as the person who allegedly stabbed Machchhar.
Israeli media have reported that the co-pilot may have attempted to take control of the aircraft and force it into a descent. Witness accounts described passengers hearing screaming and seeing blood in the cockpit.
Authorities have not established a final motive.
Israeli officials said they were assessing whether the incident could have been an attempted terror attack.
Reuters reported that Israeli fighter jets were scrambled when the aircraft was initially treated as a possible hijacking.
Flydubai has also urged caution as authorities investigate what happened.
