ABC News (AU)
· collected 2026-10-02 · by Som Patidar, Lachlan Bennett, and Lucia Stein
A close friend of Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, who was attacked by his co-pilot during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, expressed that such incidents deeply affect those connected to the victim. The friend described seeing footage of the attack as "shattering" and emphasized how it impacts someone you care about. Captain Machchhar is currently recovering well in Abu Dhabi after being moved there for further treatment following his injuries sustained during the incident where he reportedly fought off an attempted cockpit breach by his co-pilot.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-03,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 30, 2026, a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv signaled multiple emergency alerts while flying over Jordan, leading it to divert to Tabuk Airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The Israeli Air Force scrambled fighter jets due to initial fears of a hijacking. However, Israeli officials later reported that the incident was caused by a fight between the pilots and not a security threat. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister, held emergency consultations regarding the diversion. The plane landed safely with all passengers unharmed; it carried around 150 people, mostly Israelis.
Written for “Israel Bound Flight Diverted” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 283 other(s) covering the same event.
In short:
A close friend of the Indian flydubai captain who was attacked during a flight to Israel was shocked upon seeing footage of the incident.
asserted
who → attack → incident
He told the ABC that when incidents happen to people you love "it breaks you".
asserted
it → tell → you
Mr Machchhar has been moved to Abu Dhabi for further treatment and is "recovering well," according to India's embassy in the United Arab Emirates.
uncertain
Machchhar → move → Emirates
When Smit Machcharr was training to become a pilot, his friends called him "Smit Mac".
asserted
friends → train → him
Captain Dhaval Patel trained alongside him in New Zealand, and they have known each other for "close to two decades".
asserted
they → train → decades
"I vividly remember him helping colleagues and peers, educating them on the concepts of aviation with so much clarity and knowledge," Mr Patel said.
asserted
Patel → remember → clarity
"And I had the privilege of getting my fourth stripe on becoming a captain by his hand."
asserted
I → have → hand
So when footage emerged this week of Mr Machchhar after he was attacked while flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv, his friend could barely believe it.
uncertain
friend → emerge → it
"I saw the first glimpse, and I was just not ready to believe it was Captain Smit," Mr Patel told the ABC.
asserted
Patel → see → ABC
"It just was shattering to be listening and looking at the visuals
asserted
It → listen → visuals
"When it happens to the person you know, the person you love, it breaks you."
asserted
it → happen → you
Mr Machchhar was allegedly attacked by his co-pilot, who "apparently tried to crash the plane", according to Israel's prime minister.
uncertain
who → attack → minister
Now, as Mr Machchhar recovers in hospital, he is being hailed as a hero by his friends, his country, India, and people around the world.
asserted
he → recover → world
Pilot takes a call from PM
asserted
Pilot → take → PM
According to a statement published on X by the Saudi Arabia embassy to the US, preliminary investigations indicate "the first officer had assaulted the aircraft captain, resulting in both sustaining various injuries".
uncertain
both → accord → injuries
After the incident, Mr Machchhar was moved to Abu Dhabi for further treatment and was "recovering well," according to India's embassy in the United Arab Emirates.
uncertain
Machchhar → move → Emirates
His family flew from India to be by his side and is currently with him.
In a video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Machchhar said he had been "fighting for my life" on the plane.
"
asserted
he → fly → plane
I have been flying for 17 years.
asserted
I → fly → years
I know what is happening in flight even with my eyes closed," he said.
asserted
he → know → flight
"When I was on the floor, I could sense that the aircraft was going down, and then I told myself, 'Smit, give a last push.
uncertain
I → sense → push
I was getting stabbed at that point as well, but I opened the door, and others came inside.
asserted
others → stab → door
"Everyone had [a] role in it.
asserted
Everyone → have → it
I was trying to save my life but [at the] same time I was also thinking I could not let [passengers] die.
uncertain
passengers → try → time
Afterwards, everyone supported me.
asserted
everyone → support → me
I got the best medical attention here in Saudi."
asserted
I → get → Saudi
Mr Modi told Mr Machchhar he had done "such a tremendous job that not just us Indians but people worldwide want to speak and meet you".
asserted
Indians → tell → you
'Entire clan' full of pride
Mr Patel was glad to see his friend "recovering steadily, out of any danger and in good health".
asserted
friend → see → health
"That was the first sight of relief, seeing he's actually recovering and responding well to all the medical treatments," he said.
asserted
he → see → treatments
He was also happy to see his friend honoured by Mr Modi and "leaders around the world".
asserted
friend → see → world
"It's pride for our entire clan to see one of our colleagues being respected by our honorary prime minister," he said.
asserted
he → see → minister
The Aporia
