Mohammed al‑Said, an Omani co‑pilot on flydubai FZ1073, plunged the Dubai‑Tel Aviv flight into chaos Wednesday when he stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit and seized the controls, forcing the Boeing 737 into a sudden descent before the crew managed to regain command.
Even after sustaining a serious stab wound to his chest, Captain Machchhar unlocked the cockpit door and, with the help of passengers and crew, overpowered the attacker, allowing the aircraft to be steered safely to Tabuk where it landed without further incident.
The 47‑year‑old pilot, who has over 13 years of commercial experience and roughly 9,750 flight hours, was airlifted to Abu Dhabi for specialised treatment and is now recovering, the Indian Embassy confirmed after a visit by Ambassador Deepak Mittal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Machchhar’s actions “remarkable patience, presence of mind, and courage,” while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed him as a “true hero” who averted a 9/11‑style disaster. The incident has been praised by leaders across both nations, with President Droupadi Murmu and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also lauding the captain’s heroism.
Saudi authorities opened a preliminary inquiry into the Omani suspect, who is now in custody, and will hand him over to Emirati prosecutors for a secondary investigation. The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed a Public Prosecution team to determine motives, citing that the aircraft is registered in the UAE and thus subject to its laws even outside its airspace. Israeli intelligence agencies Mossad and Shin Bet are also probing the case, with Israeli officials saying the co‑pilot may have acted alone, though a definitive motive remains unconfirmed.
The next step will see the suspect transferred to Dubai for formal charges, while investigators in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Israel will convene to establish whether the attack stemmed from ideological indoctrination or other factors. The outcome of these proceedings will determine the legal and diplomatic fallout for all parties involved.