“I Couldn’t Let Everybody Else Die”: Captain Machchhar Tells His Story
Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who survived an attack by his co-pilot during a flydubai flight, has spoken for the first time about the ordeal. He told Sky News Arabia that the thought running through his head as he fought to stay conscious was: “You can’t die like this.”
What happened in the cockpit
The incident happened in August on flight FZ1073, which was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Machchhar said he was seated in the cockpit when his co-pilot, reported to be an Omani national, stood up behind him to pray. He did not realise at first that he was being attacked, and then he was struck on the head. The blow left his vision blurred, and he repeatedly lost consciousness during the struggle.
The decision that saved the flight
Machchhar said he understood he had to act or everyone on board would die. Despite his injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door so that passengers and crew could step in. Passengers subdued the co-pilot, and the flight was safely diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. He credited a fellow crew member for taking control during the chaos, saying they had to act fast because it was a matter of life and death.
“أدركت للحظة أنني لن أنجو”.. قائد طائرة فلاي دبي يروي لأول مرة حصرياً لسكاي نيوز عربية لحظات مؤثرة عاشها عقب الاعتداء عليه
المقابلة كاملة:
21:00 بتوقيت أبوظبي
17:00 بتوقيت غرينتشملاحظة: تعكس التصريحات الواردة في هذه المقابلة ما يتذكره الضيف من أحداث، وفقا لتجربته الشخصية وإدراكه لها وقت وقوعها.
— سكاي نيوز عربية (@skynewsarabia) October 17, 2026
A passenger’s account
A dentist who was on board has described a 40-minute fight to help save the captain after the attack. Reports say Machchhar’s quick reaction helped protect the 174 lives on the aircraft.
India rallies behind him
Across India, people have shown their support for the pilot, and a former colleague has described him as always “two steps” ahead. Reports so far do not say what led the co-pilot to attack, and the official investigation has not publicly detailed a motive.
For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.
- “You can’t die like this”: Indian pilot Smit Machchhar recounts mid-air attack in flydubai cockpit - October 17, 2026
- Saudi Arabia executes five citizens convicted of terrorism-related offences - October 17, 2026
- Children have a fundamental right to use the internet, rules Supreme Court, rejects blanket age-based bans - October 17, 2026
