Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke by video call on Friday with Captain Smit Machchhar, the flydubai pilot who was seriously injured after being attacked in the cockpit during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Modi praised the captain’s bravery and wished him a speedy recovery. During the call, Machchhar described the incident and what compelled him to act despite his injuries.
The attack took place on Wednesday aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 carrying 174 passengers and eight crew members. The aircraft broadcast emergency transponder codes 7700 and 7500, the latter the internationally recognised signal for unlawful interference, before diverting to Tabuk in north-western Saudi Arabia.
Flight-tracking data showed sharp altitude changes during the incident. The aircraft landed safely at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk at 9.45am. flydubai confirmed that an “altercation occurred in the flight deck” and said the aircraft was secured by off-duty flydubai crew travelling on board. The airline has asked for restraint on speculation while investigations continue.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior said its preliminary investigation found that the first officer had assaulted the captain, injuring both pilots. It did not establish a motive. Both pilots were hospitalised in Saudi Arabia before being transferred to Abu Dhabi on Thursday, October 1, accompanied by an Emirati security team.
India’s Ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, visited Machchhar and his family at the hospital and said the pilot was in good health and recovering well.
The UAE has launched a judicial investigation into the incident. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority is separately examining its operational and security dimensions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot stabbed Machchhar and attempted to crash the aircraft, and claimed the co-pilot had undergone indoctrination. Those claims remain part of the broader investigation and have not been confirmed by Saudi or UAE authorities.
