CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: The investigation into the attack on Indian Captain Smit Machhar on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has widened. In the incident on September 30, 2026, an Omani co-pilot is accused of attacking Captain Machhar and attempting to crash the aircraft. Investigators are now also examining whether others were linked to the accused.
According to media reports, two Maldivian Flydubai pilots have been detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to examine possible connections.
Reports said two other Flydubai pilots were also on board the aircraft as passengers at the time of the incident. In aviation, this is known as “deadheading,” when crew members travel on an aircraft for their next duty. When the co-pilot attacked Captain Machhar, these pilots helped control the aircraft and played an important role in the emergency landing.
Investigators are now focusing on contacts and possible associates linked to the accused’s workplace. According to a report by The Indian Express, the two Maldivian pilots were detained on October 3. They were reportedly in contact with the accused co-pilot and lived in the same building. However, contact or shared accommodation alone does not establish anyone’s involvement. The investigation is continuing.
On September 30, flight FZ1073 was in Saudi Arabian airspace when the co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Machhar with an emergency axe kept in the cockpit. During the attack, the aircraft began descending rapidly. Despite being seriously injured, Machhar managed to open the cockpit door, giving passengers and the other pilots a chance to intervene.
The aircraft was then landed in an emergency at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. There were 174 people on board. Captain Machhar suffered serious injuries in the incident, but with the help of passengers and crew, a major disaster was averted.
According to the UAE Attorney General, the accused’s alleged objective was to crash the aircraft at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. Investigators are also trying to determine what connection the accused’s ideology, preparation and possible contacts had with the incident.
For now, the investigation into the role of others has not been completed, and the allegations against the detained pilots have not been proven. As the probe progresses, it is expected to become clearer whether the attack was the act of one individual or whether a wider conspiracy lay behind it.
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