Indian Pilot Smit Machchhar Averts 9/11-Style Attack on Israel-Bound Flight
An India-bound flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv turned into an aviation emergency on September 30 when an Omani co-pilot attacked the captain and attempted to seize control of the aircraft at 34,000 feet. Captain Smit Machchhar, an experienced Indian aviator, fought back against the assailant, preventing what investigators have described as a potential "9/11"-style attack. The aircraft carried around 180 people on board.
Machchhar, a Gujarati pilot with over 13 years of commercial aviation experience and approximately 9,750 flying hours, had previously served SpiceJet in India for 11 years before joining flydubai in June 2022. He holds extensive experience on Boeing 737 aircraft variants, including the 737 MAX. His expertise and swift action during the cockpit attack proved critical in preventing a potential mass-casualty incident.
