The flight, a flydubai Boeing 737‑800, left Dubai’s Al Maktoum Airport at 06:15 IST, carrying 174 passengers, including 28 Israeli nationals. Captain Smit Machchhar, a 38‑year‑old Indian national, had joined flydubai in 2022 after a decade with SpiceJet and had logged more than 9,750 flight hours.
At 23,000 feet, the co‑pilot thrust a knife toward Machchhar while attempting to seize the controls. The cockpit door was opened, allowing passengers and crew to block the attacker, and the two relief pilots at the rear assumed command, diverting the aircraft to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed at 09:45 local time.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, calling Machchhar a hero and praying for a speedy recovery. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised the pilot, noting he saved 174 lives, while U.S. President Donald Trump labeled him a “hero” and the co‑pilot a “terrorist.”NUEPARA Both pilots were taken to hospitals; Machchhar sustained serious injuries and is receiving treatment, while the co‑pilot is under arrest. Saudi authorities will prosecute the hijacking attempt, and flydubai has announced a review of cockpit security protocols.NUEPARA A dentist aboard the flight administered emergency care to the wounded captain, a detail that underscores the emergency response on board. The incident has prompted flydubai to review its cockpit security protocols.