Pilot stabbed in horror Flydubai attack identified as details emerge about British hero who helped land plane

The pilot stabbed in a horror attack on board a commercial flight bound for Israel has been identified after a hero Brit was among those who helped land the plane.

The aircraft, travelling from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv carrying dozens of passengers, was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after it suddenly dropped thousands of feet.

A co-pilot is alleged to have stabbed his colleague, who has now identified as Indian national Captain Smit Machchhar, in the cockpit.

The co-pilot - who is yet to be identified - is then alleged to have tried to crash the busy aircraft, with terrifying on-board video footage posted on X showing the bloody scenes and passengers screaming in fear.

Machchhar, who has nearly 10,000 hours in the air, was credited as averting a possible terror attack, according to Indian and Israeli outlets.

'He is a true hero'

It was reported that he bravely fought back against the other pilot and was able to open the cockpit door and alert crew who intervened with passengers.

Described as a 'true hero', Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery.

"Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster.

"He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals. I wish Captain Machchhar a speedy and full recovery. He is a true hero."

The Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia later confirmed that Captain Machchhar was in a 'stable condition'.

A post on X read: "Our Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah have been following the health condition of Mr Smit Machchhar, the brave Indian pilot of Flydubai flight that was diverted to Tabuk today.

"He is admitted in a hospital in Tabuk city in northwest Saudi Arabia and receiving necessary medical attention. A full update on his health is awaited but he is reported to be in stable condition.

"We hope that he recovers from his injuries at the earliest. We are in touch with his family and assure them that we will continue to follow up on his health with Saudi authorities and extend all possible assistance for his wellbeing."

Netanyahu said Saudi Arabia has arrested the other pilot of a Flydubai flight.

He also met Yaniv, who has been identified as one of the passengers who burst into the cockpit.

Pictures also showed him covered in blood on board after intervening during the chaotic scenes.

What is known to have happened on the Flydubai flight

Around two and a half hours after leaving Dubai, the plane sent an emergency alert, and then descended abruptly before making an erratic circle close to the Jordanian border.

The aircraft landed in Tabuk about an hour later, according to Flightradar24.

Video footage circulating on social media shows two men on the floor of the plane, with bloody wounds. Two people appear to be providing emergency medical treatment, while two others guard the cockpit.

Pictures after landing also showed damage to the plane, with on-board footage showing families shouting and screaming in fear as the aircraft dropped. The Boeing plane’s rudder was damaged amid the sharp drop in altitude.

Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for the Israeli prime minister’s office, told Reuters that the attacker was standing over the planes’ control panel and hitting it in what appeared to be an attempted to bring down the plane with those on board.

Israel believes there may have been an attempt to attack Israelis, and an investigation is ongoing.

One passenger, Almog Itali, has told media that one of the off-duty pilots onboard who stabilised the plane was British.

In a short translated clip on the BBC, Mr Itali said: “There were two pilots in the front, one stabbed the other, and there were two spare pilots who were supposed to operate the next flight.

“The relief pilots are European, one of them British, who entered the cockpit and pulled the aircraft up, pulled the yoke, stabilised the plane and landed us in Saudi Arabia.”

Flydubai's latest statement

In a statement to LADbible, airline Flydubai said an 'altercation' had erupted on the flight before the aircraft was 'secured by on-duty crew' travelling on board.

"All passengers and crew are safe and accounted for," a statement read. We have deployed two replacement aircraft to Tabuk to relieve the passengers and crew.

"This incident has no impact on other scheduled operations across the flydubai network. At this early stage, the underlying reasons and motives behind this event are unknown and remain subject to a formal investigation.

"We urge all parties to refrain from premature speculation while authorities gather the facts.

|Our immediate priority is to ensure the ongoing safety, health, and wellbeing of all passengers and crew members involved in this incident and support the official investigation."