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Indian Pilot Smith Machhar Saves 174 Lives After Being Stabbed Mid-Air by Co-Pilot on Flydubai Flight

By Editor

Posted on October 2, 2026

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Indian Pilot Smith Machhar Saves 174 Lives After Being Stabbed Mid-Air by Co-Pilot on Flydubai Flight

TEL AVIV : In a terrifying mid-air ordeal, Indian pilot Captain Smith Machhar displayed extraordinary heroism by unlocking the cockpit door despite suffering severe blood loss and being on the verge of losing consciousness, ultimately saving the lives of 174 passengers on board Flydubai flight FZ1073. The crisis unfolded when the Omani co-pilot attempted to crash the aircraft mid-flight. Musev Shota, an Israeli dentist on board, was among the first four passengers who rushed to the cockpit to subdue and restrain the attacker. Immediately following the attacker’s detainment, Shota provided crucial emergency first aid to Machhar, effectively saving his life before an emergency landing was executed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Recounting the horrific experience to the Israeli news outlet ‘Ynet’, Dr. Shota shared that he acted without hesitation the moment he sensed danger. Describing the pilot’s condition as extremely critical due to profuse bleeding from severe lacerations on his head and hands, Shota noted that as the only medical professional on the aircraft, he managed to control the hemorrhage and stabilize Machhar until the emergency landing. Speaking to CNN, Shota further revealed that the pilot sustained deep cuts across his body, but miraculously remained conscious on the floor, mentioning that he is 39 years old and a father of two while continuously praying during the traumatic event.

Following the successful emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, local medical teams took over Captain Machhar’s treatment, confirming that he survived the assault and is now out of danger. In an official statement, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General of India in Jeddah confirmed that they are closely monitoring the developments. The embassy shared on platform ‘X’ that Captain Machhar is currently receiving medical care at a hospital in Tabuk, with initial medical reports confirming that his condition is stable after averting a major disaster in mid-air.