At 34,000 feet, the Omani co‑pilot of Flydubai flight FZ1073 attempted a hijack, thrusting a knife toward Captain Smit Machchhar. The Indian pilot fought back, was stabbed, yet forced the cockpit door open, enabling passengers and crew to wrestle the attacker's grip.
Passengers and two fellow pilots seized the moment, subduing the attacker and forcing the aircraft to descend 17,000 feet. The plane diverted to Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where emergency services secured the crew and passengers.
Israeli Consul General Orli Weitzman called the incident a terror act and praised Machchhar, while former National Security Council Director Helit Barel lauded the captain’s courage. Both officials highlighted the pilot’s role in averting a potential mass‑casualty event.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge issued statements commending the captain; Machchhar is receiving treatment in Tabuk and is expected to recover as investigators probe the hijack attempt.