Smit Machchar, an Indian captain with flydubai, stopped an armed co‑pilot from crashing a Boeing 737 on a flight that left Dubai for Tel Aviv, a move that saved more than 170 lives. The altercation unfolded mid‑flight when co‑pilot Hamam Alhammami reportedly grabbed a cockpit lever, but Machchar’s quick intervention prevented a catastrophic crash.
Sanjiv Kapoor, acting CEO of flyadeal, called Machchar’s act "sheer heroic activity" and said the captain’s bravery reflected the high‑courage nature of pilots. Speaking at a press briefing, Kapoor added that the incident made everyone in the aviation fraternity look up and say, "wow," and that the company would review all cockpit access protocols.
Chief Operating Officer Abdulaziz Bahri said the airline will tighten procedures for cockpit entry and exit, noting that cabin crew will now block doors and guard access when a pilot needs to use the lavatory. He also underscored that flyadeal and Saudi authorities conduct exhaustive background checks, personality assessments, and psychological tests before hiring foreign pilots.
The Civil Aviation Authority has launched a formal inquiry into Alhammami’s conduct and is evaluating whether existing cockpit security measures were adequate. The airline will publish a revised cockpit protocol by the end of the month, and a formal investigation is scheduled for early next week.