Indian Pilot Saves 174 Passengers After Mid-Air Attack

In a harrowing mid-air ordeal, Captain Smit Machchhar, a Dubai-based Indian national, successfully saved the lives of 174 passengers after being stabbed by his co-pilot during a Flydubai flight. The incident occurred on September 30, 2026, while the Boeing 737 was en route from Dubai to Ben Gurion Airport in Israel.

A Violent Struggle in the Cockpit

The terror began approximately two and a half hours after takeoff. According to reports, the aircraft experienced a sudden and dramatic descent, dropping between 14,000 and 16,000 feet as it plummeted from a cruising altitude of 33,000 feet down to 17,000 feet. During this chaotic descent, Captain Machchhar sustained serious injuries, including stab wounds to his head