Indonesian Panicked Pilot Heats up After Stabbing Heavily
On the early morning of 2 October, a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv experienced a deadly cockpit brawl. Captain Smit Machchhar was attacked by his co‑pilot, who brandished a knife and stabbed him in the chest.
When the attack began, Machchhar was already on the floor, bruised and bleeding. Despite the pain, he forced the cockpit door open and leaned it wide enough for passengers and aircraft crew to enter the cockpit and confront the attacker.
The on‑board passengers and two reserve pilots, who were also aboard, opened fire on the attacker, tying him up and preventing a potential hijack or crash.
The aircraft, which had already climbed 17,000 feet, signalled an emergency to air‑traffic control and began the dangerous descent. By 06:58 local time the plane landed safely at Tabuk Airport in north‑western Saudi Arabia.
Authorities suspect an Islamist terrorist motive. The United Arab Emirates, Israel and India have each set up investigations, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labelled the pilot a "hero" and said the attacker had undergone radical indoctrination.
Smit Machchhar was flown to Abu Dhabi where he is currently in stable condition. His hospital and home country praised him as a brave guardian of passengers.
Social media in India has flooded with support, with users calling him a symbol of courage and quick thinking. The Prime Minister even thanked him for his swift decision‑making that saved lives.
The incident has highlighted the importance of crew training, the need for better aircraft security measures and the capacity of passengers to act decisively in an emergency. Authorities remain on high alert as investigations continue into the attacker’s background and motives.
