An Israeli dentist, Dr. Shota Musayev, became an unlikely hero aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 on September 30, when he rushed to the cockpit to treat the critically injured Captain Smit Machchhar. The pilot had been stabbed by his co-pilot during a violent confrontation mid-flight, an incident that saw the aircraft plunge nearly 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds.
Dr. Musayev, who was returning from China, recounted to The Times of Israel that he responded within seconds of hearing screams from the cockpit. “When I heard screaming, after 10 seconds I ran — I didn’t wait,” he stated upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
Mid-Flight Emergency and Heroic Intervention
Upon entering the cockpit, Dr. Musayev found the 39-year-old Indian captain in a serious condition, bleeding heavily, particularly from his head. As the sole medical professional on board, he immediately administered emergency treatment. “I was the only doctor on the plane, and eventually I managed to stop the bleeding and stabilize his blood pressure,” Musayev explained, expressing his belief that his actions helped save the pilot’s life.
The dentist also credited several other brave passengers and crew members who intervened to overpower the assailant. This collective effort allowed two other Flydubai pilots, who happened to be passengers, to take control of the aircraft and execute a safe emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The plane was carrying 174 people at the time of the incident.
Investigation Underway
Israeli officials confirmed that the co-pilot not only stabbed Captain Machchhar but also attempted to crash the aircraft. Despite his severe injuries, Captain Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to enter and restrain the attacker.
Flydubai has acknowledged the incident but stated that the underlying reasons remain unknown, urging against premature speculation. Saudi authorities have arrested and interrogated the co-pilot. In response, Israel announced plans to strengthen security checks on pilots operating flights into the country following this alarming event.