- October 1, 2026
Flydubai Incident Live Updates: Captain Smit Machchhar’s Family Reaches Riyadh
Flydubai Flight Incident Live News Updates: An Indian pilot and passengers were credited with averting a major disaster after an alleged cockpit attack forced a Dubai-Tel Aviv Flydubai flight to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot appeared to have stabbed the pilot and attempted to crash the aircraft. Passengers rushed towards the cockpit after the plane suddenly plunged around 17,000 feet in a minute, according to Flightradar24 data.
The wounded captain was identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar, who was praised by Netanyahu for fighting back despite his injuries. Passengers then helped overpower the co-pilot, while other Flydubai crew members took control and safely landed the aircraft at Tabuk. All 174 passengers were reported safe, with 166 said to be Israeli nationals.
Flydubai said the reasons for the altercation remained unclear and later announced that flights to and from Israel would be suspended while the incident was investigated.
Machchhar was taken to hospital in Tabuk and was reported to be in stable condition. The co-pilot was also injured and was taken to hospital after the landing. Israeli officials said Saudi authorities had arrested and questioned him.
