Machchhar was reportedly attacked by his Omani co-pilot while the Boeing 737 MAX was in flight. Despite being injured, he managed to fight off the attacker and regain control of the aircraft when it was rapidly losing altitude.
The aircraft, operating as FZ 1073, reportedly dropped more than 14,000 feet in just 29 seconds. According to Flightradar24 data, the plane fell from around 30,875 feet to 16,750 feet during the incident.
The tracking data also showed an extreme descent rate of around 30,000 feet per minute.
The flight was carrying 174 passengers, including 166 Israeli citizens. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later referred to the incident in a video address, saying one pilot had attacked the other and apparently attempted to crash the aircraft.
Machchhar managed to stabilise the aircraft during the critical moments. Crew members then entered the cockpit and overpowered the co-pilot.
There were also two additional pilots travelling as passengers on the flight. They were scheduled to operate the aircraft for its return journey from Tel Aviv to Dubai. Once the situation in the cockpit was brought under control, the two pilots took over the aircraft.
The flight was subsequently diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia and landed safely. The aircraft reportedly suffered damage to its rudder, which is used to control the aircraft’s direction, during the steep descent.
Flydubai confirmed that “an altercation occurred” in the flight deck.
Machchhar, who previously worked with SpiceJet for around a decade until 2023, is reportedly in stable condition. Friends and former colleagues have described him as a calm and decent person who was always willing to learn.
A senior pilot who trained Machchhar said he completed his Commercial Pilot Licence training in New Zealand and later underwent Boeing 737 type-rating training at FSTC in Manesar, Gurgaon.
Machchhar’s family also has a connection with aviation. His brother is a pilot with Flydubai.
The incident is now being examined as authorities investigate what happened inside the cockpit and how the aircraft was brought safely out of the dangerous descent.
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