FlyDubai Pilot Injured in Mid-Air Attack, Plane Lands Safely

The captain of a FlyDubai flight that made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on September 30th was Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, according to Indian media. Machchhar previously worked for SpiceJet for about a decade before joining FlyDubai in 2022. The identity of the co-pilot has not been officially released, but Israeli sources claim he is an Omani citizen. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with a knife and attempted to crash the plane. Saudi authorities have detained the co-pilot, and the incident is under official investigation.

Following the attack, other pilots on board took control of the aircraft. FlyDubai confirmed in a statement that company employees, not part of the primary flight crew, who were traveling as passengers, intervened and regained control of the cockpit. These employees then rerouted the plane and landed it safely in Tabuk. All passengers and crew are reported to be safe.

Passenger accounts suggest that a second shift of pilots was on board as passengers. One of these reserve pilots reportedly entered the cockpit after the attack and assisted in landing the plane. The British newspaper The Times reported that one of these reserve pilots was a British citizen. Initial reports suggesting Russian or Ukrainian pilots were involved have not been substantiated. The only confirmed pilot identity so far is Captain Smit Machchhar. FlyDubai reiterated that the causes and motives behind the incident are still under official investigation.