Captain stabbed during alleged hijacking attempt on FlyDubai flight
Thursday 1 October 2026 · 4 outlets · 10 reports · updated In this story Benjamin Netanyahu, Narendra Modi, flydubai
Captain Smit Machchhar was stabbed by his co-pilot during a FlyDubai flight from the United Arab Emirates to Israel. The pilot, who trained in Dunedin, was reportedly involved in a struggle that may have been an attempt to crash the aircraft. All passengers were reported safe following the incident.
Key facts
5 facts
- Captain Smit Machcchar trained at Mainland Air in Dunedin for 18 months from 2008 to 2009.
- The FlyDubai flight was travelling from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv.
- The aircraft made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
- The aircraft descended from 33,000ft to 17,000ft in roughly one minute.
- The flight carried between 170 and 174 passengers.
The full story
1 min read · 3 outlets
Captain Smit Machcchar, who trained in New Zealand, was stabbed by his co-pilot during a FlyDubai flight from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv. The aircraft, carrying approximately 170 to 174 passengers, plummeted from 33,000ft to 17,000ft in about a minute during the incident. The plane eventually made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Machcchar trained at Mainland Air in Dunedin for 18 months between 2008 and 2009. Mainland Air chief executive Philip Kean described him as an "above average" student who "stood out". Kean noted that Machcchar had remained in contact with the school and worked as a recruitment agent in India.
Passengers and crew members, including two off-duty pilots, intervened to subdue the attacker. One off-duty pilot was reported to be a New Zealander and the other a South African citizen. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Machcchar managed to unlock the cockpit door despite his injuries, which allowed others to intervene.
Israeli officials suggested the incident may have been a terrorist attack intended to crash the plane into an Israeli city. While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade could not confirm if a New Zealander was on board, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stated his information suggested no New Zealanders were on the flight.
How it developed
- Thu 1 Oct, 1:57pmIsraeli security officials suggested the incident may have been a September 11-style terrorist attack.
Where reports differ
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade could not confirm if a New Zealander was on board, whereas Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stated his information suggested there were no New Zealanders on the flight.
Compiled from reports by 1News, NZ Herald and Stuff.