An Israeli dentist who was travelling as a passenger on Flydubai Flight FZ1073 has described the tense moments after Indian Captain Smit Machchhar was seriously injured during a violent incident inside the aircraft's cockpit.
The flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30 when a confrontation reportedly broke out between the two pilots. According to reports from passengers and Israeli authorities, the incident involved an attack on Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot in command of the Boeing 737. The aircraft subsequently made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
Dr Shota Musayev, a dentist who was among the passengers, said he rushed towards the cockpit after hearing screams and signs of a disturbance. He told media outlets that he found Machchhar seriously injured and bleeding heavily from wounds to his head and hands.
Musayev said he immediately began providing medical assistance because he was the only doctor on board. His priority was to control the bleeding and keep the injured pilot stable until the aircraft could land.
According to Musayev's account, Machchhar remained conscious for part of the ordeal and was able to communicate with people around him despite his injuries. The dentist said the pilot had suffered significant blood loss and that his condition deteriorated at one stage before medical assistance could be provided.
The dentist also described the atmosphere inside the aircraft as extremely tense. Passengers had become aware that something unusual was happening in the cockpit after the aircraft experienced a sharp change in altitude. Several passengers and crew members moved towards the cockpit and helped restrain the other pilot involved in the confrontation.
Reuters reported that the aircraft experienced a rapid descent during the incident and that emergency procedures were activated. Passengers and off duty pilots on board helped regain control of the situation, while the aircraft was eventually diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia for an emergency landing.
The incident has drawn international attention because of the potential danger to everyone on board. The aircraft was carrying more than 170 people, and the sudden emergency created concern among passengers before the situation was brought under control.
Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, was the pilot in command of the flight. Reports said he had been working as a Flydubai captain since 2022 and had previously worked with SpiceJet. He was seriously injured during the cockpit confrontation and was taken to hospital after the aircraft landed in Saudi Arabia.
Passenger accounts have highlighted the actions of several people who intervened during the incident. The injured captain reportedly managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to enter. They then helped restrain the other pilot, while others assisted with the aircraft's safe operation and the injured captain's medical needs.
Musayev said that his medical training as a dentist helped him respond quickly when he saw the injured pilot. He focused on controlling the bleeding and monitoring the pilot's condition while the flight remained in the air.
The dentist later recalled that the pilot was communicating with those around him despite the severity of his injuries. According to Musayev's account, Machchhar told those assisting him personal details about himself while they waited for the aircraft to land. The dentist said he was concerned about the possibility of losing the pilot because of the amount of blood he had lost.
The aircraft eventually landed safely at Tabuk Airport. Both pilots were taken for medical treatment, while Saudi authorities reportedly detained the other pilot involved in the incident. The passengers were subsequently assisted in continuing their journey to Israel.
The motive behind the cockpit incident has not been conclusively established. Israeli officials have discussed the possibility that the incident was an intentional attack, and authorities have reportedly examined it as a potential act of terrorism. However, investigations are continuing, and the circumstances and motive remain subject to official findings. Flydubai has also urged caution against speculation while the investigation is underway.
The incident has also prompted questions about cockpit security and how the confrontation developed while the aircraft was in flight. Aviation authorities and investigators are expected to examine the sequence of events, the actions of both pilots, the aircraft's emergency procedures and how passengers and crew members were able to enter the cockpit.
The sharp descent of the aircraft added to the urgency of the situation. According to Reuters, the plane descended rapidly before the situation was stabilised and the aircraft was diverted to Saudi Arabia. The emergency landing prevented the incident from developing into a larger aviation disaster.
Captain Machchhar's actions and the intervention of passengers have received widespread attention following the incident. Indian and Israeli officials have publicly praised the pilot and those who helped during the emergency. However, the precise sequence of events and the motive behind the cockpit confrontation remain matters for the ongoing investigation.
The account given by Dr Shota Musayev provides a detailed view of what happened after the pilot was injured. His description of treating the captain while the aircraft was still in the air highlights the medical emergency that unfolded alongside the cockpit struggle.
For now, Captain Smit Machchhar's condition has been reported as stable following treatment, while investigations into the cockpit incident continue. The case remains under examination by the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia, Israel and other jurisdictions involved in the flight.
The Flydubai incident has therefore become a major international aviation story, involving an injured Indian captain, passenger intervention, an emergency landing and an ongoing investigation into what triggered the confrontation inside the cockpit.
3 Line Content
An Israeli dentist travelling on Flydubai Flight FZ1073 recalled treating Indian Captain Smit Machchhar after he was seriously injured during a cockpit confrontation.
Dr Shota Musayev said he helped control the pilot's heavy bleeding until the aircraft made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Passengers and crew members helped restrain the other pilot, while authorities continue investigating the incident and its possible motive.
