On September 30, the cockpit of flydubai flight FZ1073 became the scene of a violent confrontation when the co‑pilot, an Omani national, brandished a crash axe and struck Captain Smit Machchhar. The blade lodged deep in the captain’s chest, cutting a major artery and rendering him unconscious. The crew scrambled to stabilize the aircraft, but the sudden loss of the captain’s command forced the flight to descend abruptly. The incident, which was captured on the plane’s black box, shocked passengers and crew alike.
The aircraft plummeted more than 17,000 feet in a matter of seconds, dropping from 34,000 to 17,000 feet before the surviving pilot managed to regain control.
Reserve pilots landed the jet safely at Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the injured captain was transferred to a local hospital. The co‑pilot was immediately taken into custody by Saudi authorities and later handed over to UAE security. A medical team airlifted Captain Machchhar to Abu Dhabi for further treatment.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that the captain’s condition is improving following surgery, and the embassy has been in constant contact with his family and the hospital. Ambassador Deepak Mittal visited the captain on October 1 and reported that he was stable.