Co-pilot tried to crash plane after stabbing captain — his wounded colleague’s one heroic move helped passengers stop him
Thousands of people board flights every day, trusting the pilots to bring them to their destinations safely. One Indian captain acted with extraordinary courage to make this happen. A report from The Independent on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, highlighted the story of Flydubai’s Captain Smit Machchhar, who risked his life, even after being stabbed while handling the aircraft from the cockpit. The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared a statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who praised the pilot, along with passengers who tackled the situation.
According to CNN, the plane was en route to Tel Aviv when Machchhar was allegedly attacked by his Omani co-pilot, sustaining stab wounds. The report claims, when the co-pilot attempted to crash the plane following the brawl, the aircraft descended around 17,000 feet within two minutes. Passengers immediately realized something was wrong; however, they could not intervene since both pilots were in the cockpit. As Machchhar had seconds to make a move, even while bleeding and struggling, he managed to make his way to the cockpit door and open the lock. Fellow passengers quickly stepped in and tackled the co-pilot. An off-duty British pilot later took control of the plane, making a safe landing in Saudi Arabia.
A dentist, Shota Musaev, who was onboard, was able to provide immediate treatment to the captain. He recalled how he was severely injured. He mentioned that a wait of even a few more minutes would have led to dangerous blood loss, and Machchhar would likely not have made it. There were around 170 to 180 people onboard. They shudder to think what would have happened had Machchhar not opened that lock while fighting for his life. The pilot’s former instructor, Kean, praised the man, saying, “There could have been a whole airplane load of people wiped out in a matter of seconds. Luckily they got the door open… luckily he could hang on and save the day.”
The Israeli Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the captain and the passengers who risked their lives to barge into the cockpit and take action. These were ordinary people, fathers, spouses, etc., who put on the armor of courage. “I salute these heroes, who demonstrated exceptional resourcefulness and courage. They saved many lives,” he said.
The cabin crew does more than fly the plane and serve passengers. The safety of the latter lies at the center of their duties, and determined professionals like Machchhar put this duty before their own lives. On a lighter note, a pregnant woman experienced the kindness of another pilot while she was traveling. After her plane was delayed, she was certain she would miss her connection.
Knowing that she had to complete an 18-minute walk to the gate didn’t give her much assurance. Her friends hurried before her, hoping to speak with the agent and borrow a few minutes. However, they refused. When the pilot overheard how the pregnant woman was struggling to make her way through, he simply said, “Well, they won't leave without me,” and got off the plane until the woman arrived. His thoughtfulness was later applauded.