Friends of Pilot Stabbed in ‘Terrorist’ Cockpit Attack Reflect on Moment They Learned of the Hijacking Attempt: ‘It Breaks You’

“It’s pride for our entire clan to see one of our colleagues being respected by our honorary prime minister,” said a friend of Smit Machchhar

NEED TO KNOW

• Flydubai Flight FZ1073 was flying from Dubai to Israel when one pilot stabbed another and tried to seize control of the plane
• Despite fighting for his life, Captain Smit Machchhar said that he was determined to prevent the plane from crashing as it plunged 17,000 feet during the attack
• “Smit has taught us courage. Now we will do the same thing if something like this happens,” said one of his friends

Friends of the Flydubai pilot who was allegedly stabbed by his co-pilot, causing the aircraft to plunge 17,000 feet, reflected on the moment they learned of the “terrorist act.”

At around 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30, Flydubai Flight FZ1073 issued a hijacking signal in Israel, alerting the local authorities, Reuters, CNN and the Israeli outlet N12 reported. The flight, which was carrying approximately 170 people, was on its way to Tel Aviv, Israel.

While the flight ultimately landed safely in Saudi Arabia after diverting, an Israeli official told N12 that one of the pilots “stabbed” their co-pilot before trying to “hijack the plane” and “crash it.”

“The plane started to dive, and a team of pilots who were present there took control of the stabber and the plane — a dramatic disaster was averted,” they said.

While speaking with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the incident, Captain Smit Machchhar recalled his determination to prevent the plane from crashing as he was attacked and the aircraft plunged thousands of feet. 

“Even with my eyes closed, I can tell what’s happening in a plane,” he said, per the BBC. “When I fell, I could tell the plane was going down. I told myself to give it one last push.”

“Others came in and also played a role [in controlling the situation],” he continued. “I was of course fighting for my own life, but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die.”

Captain Dhaval Patel, a fellow pilot who trained alongside Machchhar in New Zealand, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that he and Machchhar have known each other for “close to two decades.”

“I saw the first glimpse, and I was just not ready to believe it was Captain Smit,” he said of the moment he learned of the attack. “When it happens to the person you know, the person you love, it breaks you.”

“I vividly remember him helping colleagues and peers, educating them on the concepts of aviation with so much clarity and knowledge,” he continued. “And I had the privilege of getting my fourth stripe on becoming a captain by his hand.” 

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Since the alleged attack, the Indian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates shared that Machchhar has been “under excellent medical care and is recovering well.”

Patel also reiterated that his longtime friend is “out of any danger and in good health.”

“That was the first sight of relief, seeing he’s actually recovering and responding well to all the medical treatments,” he told the ABC. “It’s pride for our entire clan to see one of our colleagues being respected by our honorary prime minister.”

Another friend of Machchhar, Captain Dharav Gosalia, told the BBC that he “had goosebumps” when he heard what happened to his former colleague. 

“We have been in touch with messages,” he said. “If there are some routes we have to fly, we discuss destinations and family on WhatsApp and phone.”

“He is a very disciplined flyer,” he continued, noting that Machchhar was a former member of the Indian Air Force who moved into commercial aviation. “That training gives you more focus, more discipline and more focus on motor skills.”

Ultimately, Gosalia emphasized how much courage Machchhar showed during an unprecedented incident. 

“Smit has taught us courage,” he said. “Now we will do the same thing if something like this happens.”