2nd October 2026 – (Abu Dhabi) Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot hailed for averting disaster aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, has described how he fought through severe injuries to open the cockpit door as the aircraft entered a steep descent. In a video call with India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, he said he realised “this was the last push” as the jet lost altitude and that he could not “let others die,” recounting a struggle in which his co‑pilot allegedly stabbed him before passengers intervened.
The Boeing 737 MAX, carrying 182 people including crew, issued distress signals before diverting to Tabuk in north‑western Saudi Arabia, where a relief crew on board helped land the aircraft safely at 6.58am local time. Saudi, Emirati and Israeli authorities are investigating, and the co‑pilot was detained by Saudi officials following the emergency landing.
Officials and passengers said the aircraft plummeted roughly 17,000 feet in under a minute during the struggle inside the cockpit, with witnesses describing scenes of panic before passengers and crew subdued the attacker. Machchhar, a father of two with 17 years’ flying experience, was treated initially in Tabuk and later transferred to Abu Dhabi, where he is reported to be in a stable condition.
Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, praised Machchhar’s “extraordinary bravery” and said initial checks indicated the Omani co‑pilot had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination,” while stressing that the full motive remains under examination. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates said their inquiry would determine whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity.
Modi told Machchhar that his courage, composure and rapid decision‑making had saved many lives, sentiments echoed by Indian diplomats who said the captain was recovering well. Machchhar said he drew strength from his faith during the ordeal and remains confident of a full recovery