NZ-trained pilot praised after mid-air attack on Israel-bound flight

1 October 2026

An Indian pilot who trained in New Zealand is being praised after he was stabbed in the cockpit of a flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

Captain Smit Machchhar was injured during an altercation with the aircraft’s co-pilot on Wednesday, 30 September. The plane lost altitude rapidly before passengers and crew intervened. Other pilots on board took control and landed it safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Machchhar, saying the injured captain opened the cockpit door, allowing others to reach and restrain the attacker. Passengers also described helping to stop the co-pilot as the aircraft descended.

Both pilots were taken to hospital after the emergency landing. The passengers later continued to Israel on a replacement aircraft.

Questions remain about the attack

The circumstances of the attack, including how a weapon came aboard, remain under investigation. Israeli officials have said they believe the co-pilot tried to bring down the plane, but his motive has not been established. Flydubai has urged against speculation while the investigation continues.

Separate reports have suggested that an off-duty pilot who helped during the incident may be a New Zealand citizen. New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was aware of the claim but had not formally confirmed it. Machchhar’s reported training in New Zealand does not mean he is a New Zealand citizen.

The safe landing has drawn attention to the actions of the injured captain, the passengers and crew who intervened, and the pilots who brought the aircraft down. Investigators must now establish exactly what happened in the cockpit.

Based on reporting by RNZ and international news agencies.