Dr. Maya Peretz, who was on-board the flydubai plane that saw a mid-air crisis, praised Captain Smit Machchhar as a “truly brave man” with immense humanity and presence of mind. A co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain inside the cockpit of a Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, causing the aircraft to plummet 17,400 feet before passengers and crew members subdued the attacker and landed safely. Following the violent disturbance, where the captain was seriously injured, some passengers panicked and attempted to confront or harm the co-pilot/attacker, said Peretz. However, she said that Captain Smit defused the retaliation by telling passengers: “Leave him. If anyone can control the plane, have a look.”
He urged everyone to stop trying to attack the individual and instead focus entirely on one critical objective: getting the aircraft back under control. He and a few doctors insisted that passengers remain calm, refrain from violence, and allow official authorities to handle the situation once they safely landed, said Peretz. Despite suffering serious injuries, his sole priority remained the safety of the 174 passengers onboard. Deeply moved by his display of calm leadership under extreme stress, Dr. Peretz expressed her wished for his speedy recovery and stated she hopes her own daughter grows up to inherit similar values. The flight was ultimately subdued and safely diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. India’s Ambassador to the UAE Deepak Mittal visitedCaptain Machchhar at the hospital and reported that he is doing well, stable, and was seen “smiling, laughing, and chatting” with his family. After undergoing emergency surgery at a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, he was airlifted to Abu Dhabi, UAE, for continued medical attention, recovery, and to be reunited with his family.
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