Tabuk: An old video of flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar discussing the importance of trained crew during an emergency has resurfaced after he was injured in a violent cockpit confrontation aboard a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.
Machchhar, an Indian pilot who was commanding flydubai Flight FZ1073, was reportedly attacked by his co-pilot during the flight on Wednesday. The incident forced the aircraft to divert to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing.
The pilot’s comments, made about a year before the incident, have attracted renewed attention on social media because they focused on the role of cabin crew and other trained people when something goes wrong during a flight.
What Smit Machchhar said in the old video
The resurfaced footage comes from an October 2025 appearance by Machchhar on the Bonafide Banter podcast, hosted by Zalak Mehta.
During the conversation, Machchhar discussed the importance of trained crew members during emergencies. He explained that passengers may not always appreciate the role of cabin crew during a routine flight, but their training becomes particularly important when an unexpected situation develops.
“When we are up there and if something happens, you know, who’s gonna save you?” Machchhar said during the podcast.
He went on to explain that cabin crew members receive training that can help them respond during emergencies and provide assistance to passengers until further help is available.
Machchhar also spoke about the way passengers perceive cabin crew members, saying their importance becomes much clearer when a crisis occurs.
“It is unfortunate how the entire outlook of people is towards the crew. But when things are going wrong, you need them,” he said.
The comments were made in an ordinary discussion about aviation and emergency preparedness. However, they have gained new attention following the events aboard Flight FZ1073.
What happened aboard the flydubai flight?
According to the account provided in the source material, Machchhar was involved in a confrontation with his co-pilot inside the cockpit while the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight was in the air.
The co-pilot, identified as an Omani national, allegedly attacked Machchhar with a knife. Israeli officials said they believed the co-pilot may have been attempting to take control of the aircraft with the intention of crashing it, although the circumstances and motive were subject to investigation.
Machchhar was injured during the confrontation and reportedly called for help.
The incident unfolded while the aircraft was cruising at high altitude. Eyewitness accounts cited by the Associated Press described blood inside the cockpit during the struggle.
The aircraft also experienced a rapid descent, dropping from approximately 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in around 30 seconds, according to reports cited in the source material.
The situation became particularly critical because the confrontation involved the people responsible for operating the aircraft.
Passenger helped overpower co-pilot
A passenger on board the flight reportedly intervened after the cockpit confrontation began.
The passenger, an Israeli plumber with no flying experience, helped overpower the co-pilot. He then briefly assisted with control of the aircraft while the situation in the cockpit was being brought under control.
The flight also had an unusual advantage: reserve pilots happened to be travelling on board.
Those pilots were able to assist with the aircraft and guide it towards Tabuk, where the flight eventually made an emergency landing.
The sequence of events meant that several people with different roles contributed to getting the aircraft safely on the ground. Machchhar was injured but continued to assist, while the passenger intervened during the confrontation and reserve pilots helped with the flight.
Machchhar underwent surgery
After the aircraft landed in Tabuk, Machchhar was taken to hospital for treatment.
The pilot underwent surgery and was later reported to be in stable condition. The co-pilot was arrested by Saudi authorities after the aircraft landed.
The incident has prompted attention not only because of the reported violence inside the cockpit but also because of the actions of those on board who helped prevent the situation from escalating further.
The investigation is expected to establish the precise sequence of events, the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and the co-pilot’s alleged actions.
Old remarks gain fresh attention
Machchhar’s 2025 podcast comments have become widely shared following the incident because of their discussion of emergency situations and the importance of trained crew.
In the podcast, he had spoken about how people sometimes overlook the work of cabin crew during normal flights. He stressed that their training becomes particularly important when passengers or crew members face an emergency.
The resurfacing of the footage does not mean Machchhar was discussing the specific incident that later occurred. The podcast was recorded roughly a year before the reported cockpit confrontation.
However, his comments have taken on a different context after the events aboard Flight FZ1073, with social media users sharing the video alongside reports of the incident.
Leaders praise pilot’s actions
Machchhar’s conduct during the emergency has also drawn praise from political leaders.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump were among those reported to have praised the pilot’s bravery following the incident.
The episode has also highlighted the importance of emergency preparedness in commercial aviation. While cockpit security procedures are designed to prevent unauthorised interference, the reported confrontation demonstrated how quickly an unusual situation can become critical.
The presence of reserve pilots on the aircraft and the intervention of a passenger were also significant elements in the emergency response described in reports.
For now, Machchhar remains under medical care after undergoing surgery, while authorities continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.