New Delhi: An Indian-origin pilot was at the controls of a flydubai flight when a violent confrontation broke out inside the cockpit at more than 30,000 feet, forcing the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (September 30).
He was reportedly attacked with a knife by his Omani co-pilot at Flight FZ1073, which was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv with around 180 people on board. The incident happened while the Boeing 737 MAX was flying at around 34,000 feet. Reuters said that the aircraft dropped by nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds after the cockpit incident. Other flight-tracking data put the total descent at around 17,400 feet over roughly two minutes during the incident. It first used the 7700 code for a general emergency and later transmitted 7500, the code used for unlawful interference. He has been a flydubai captain since June 2022. Before joining the Dubai-based airline, he spent around 11 years with SpiceJet in India. He worked as a pilot-in-command at SpiceJet and had logged more than 6,400 flying hours with the airline. His experience includes Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9 aircraft, with around 9,750 hours of total flying experience.
Saudi airport authorities confirmed that both pilots were injured and taken to hospital. Reuters reported that the co-pilot allegedly tried to sabotage the aircraft’s systems before passengers and a crew member intervened.
The emergency began with a violent confrontation between the two pilots, according to reports. He claimed a passenger told him that the aircraft began rapidly descending. The man has been identified as Smit Machar. The aircraft later landed safely at Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Flight-tracking data showed a steep descent during the crisis. The aircraft transmitted emergency signals during the incident. The aircraft eventually turned towards Saudi Arabia and landed at Tabuk. He later served as a line training captain, where he was involved in training other pilots. Machar joined flydubai as a direct-entry captain. This route allows experienced pilots from other airlines to join directly in a captain’s role. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Welingkar Institute of Management. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alleged the co-pilot attacked the captain with a knife and attempted to take control of the aircraft. A passenger then managed to get into the cockpit, where passengers and crew members helped restrain the pilot involved in the attack.
Both were taken to hospital after the aircraft landed at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk at 9:45 a.m. local time. Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft dropping rapidly from around 34,000 feet. The use of the 7500 code briefly led to fears that the aircraft had been hijacked. The aircraft later transmitted another 7700 emergency signal before landing in Tabuk.
Israeli media reported that passengers heard screams in the cabin and saw blood in the cockpit. Saudi airport authorities later confirmed that the captain and first officer were injured. The airline said that its teams were working with the relevant authorities and that further updates would follow as confirmed information became available.
One passenger said people sitting near the front realised that something serious had happened after hearing the noise. Flydubai confirmed that Flight FZ1073 had “experienced an incident while en route” and landed safely in Tabuk. Passengers and crew members then helped control the situation as the aircraft began a sharp descent. Passengers were assisted at the terminal while arrangements were made for a replacement aircraft. It then stabilised at a lower altitude before turning towards Tabuk. Israeli fighter jets were scrambled as authorities worked to establish what was happening aboard the plane. The incident is being investigated by the authorities. Israeli officials have also described the co-pilot’s actions as an attempted effort to crash the aircraft, while investigations continue into what led to the confrontation in the cockpit.
Flight FZ1073 had left Dubai for Tel Aviv and reached cruising altitude before the trouble began.
