Hamam al-Hammami, identified as the co-pilot who attacked a flight captain on a flight to Tel Aviv, studied at a UK university prior to the attack, it has emerged.
A spokesperson for Buckinghamshire New University told The Independent: “Our thoughts are with the injured pilot, crew and passengers involved in this incident.
“Hamam al Hammami previously completed a distance-learning course in aviation management. He did not undertake any pilot training at the University.”
The UAE’s prosecutor general said he intended to carry out a “terror attack” and that the man, who was identified on Saturday as Omani national al-Hammami, used a crash axe to stab the captain.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the incident, the motives and any related connections, as well as to examine physical and digital evidence, he added.
Hammami was born in the UAE to an Omani father and Syrian mother, CNN quoted sources and Israeli officials familiar with the matter as saying.
He was banned from flying last year over concerns that he had radical ideological views, according to Saudi state media.
FlyDubai has said that the incident is still under investigation.
Read MoreIsrael plane attacker was banned from flying by Oman over suspected radicalisation - report
What we know and don't know about how Iran uses asymmetric warfare
How a six-year-old girl helped avert Israel flight disaster after pilot stabbed
Indian pilot hero tells of FlyDubai cockpit horror attack: 'I had so many wounds'
Key Points
- Co-pilot in FlyDubai attack identified
- Netanyahu says ‘whoever sent attacker will pay heavy price’
- Oman barred FlyDubai co-pilot from flying over extremism concerns
- Flydubai suspends flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv
- Flydubai pilot reveals desperate attempts to unlock cockpit door
- What happened on the hijacked Israel flight and who was behind it?
UAE launches probe into FlyDubai flight hijacking attempt
16:00 , Suha KidwaiThe UAE Attorney General, Counsellor Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, has confirmed that Emirati authorities are conducting an ongoing investigation to establish the motive behind the mid-air attack.
According to state media outlet WAM, specialised investigators are now analysing physical and digital evidence to determine the co-pilot's motives and identify any potential ties to external extremist organisations.
The news comes after earlier confirmation that the hijacking is being treated as a ‘terror’ attack by UAE authorities.
Co-pilot in FlyDubai attack identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami – reports
15:50 , Maira ButtThe co-pilot suspected of stabbing the captain of an Israel-bound FlyDubai flight was an Omani national named Hamam al-Hammami, according to reports.
He was banned from flying last year over concerns that he had radical ideological views, according to Saudi state media.
The attacker was born in the United Arab Emirates to an Omani father and Syrian mother, CNN reported.
Co-pilot in FlyDubai attack identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami – reports
Watch: FlyDubai pilot hailed as ‘national hero’ as he describes attack
15:01 , Maira ButtIsrael plane attacker was banned from flying by Oman over suspected radicalisation - report
14:34 , Maira ButtThe FlyDubai co-pilot who stabbed his captain had previously been banned from flying over concerns he had radical ideological views, it has been reported.
Though the pilot- an Omani national - was banned by his country, he was still hired by FlyDubai, according to the Wall Street Journal.
However, the nature of his radicalisation has not been shared.
CNN reported that the pilot had been removed from a previous job at Oman’s national airline last year following concerns about his extremist views.
Israel plane attacker was banned from flying by Oman - report
In-flight attack on FlyDubai pilot puts aviation security measures under fresh scrutiny
14:00 , Rituparna ChatterjeeIsrael has some of the world’s most stringent air travel security measures.
The United Arab Emirates proudly adheres to international aviation safety standards. Yet those safeguards failed to prevent a flight between the countries from taking a dangerous plunge during an alleged attack in the cockpit.
The copilot allegedly stabbed the captain in the cockpit before passengers intervened aboard FlyDubai Flight FZ1073 after taking off from Dubai, UAE, with 174 people flying to Tel Aviv, Israel, on Wednesday.
“Until this event, the possibility of a threat originating from a pilot or crew member was not considered a likely scenario. Security efforts have traditionally focused much more heavily on passengers and their luggage,” says Eyal Hulata, Israel’s former national security adviser.
“That will probably change now and crew members will be subject to heavier screening.”
How ‘Israel’s 9/11’ was averted after midair stabbing as co-pilot’s motive remains a mystery
13:30 , Maira ButtWhen the first reports about a diverted flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv came through on Wednesday, it appeared to have been caused by a tussle between two pilots.
Early claims even suggested one was Russian and the other Ukrainian.
But, in the age of social media, the true chaos aboard the FlyDubai Flight FZ1073 quickly came to light. Footage and images sent from the plane by blood-covered passengers showed them overpowering the co-pilot, who it later emerged was an Omani national.
Terror at 34,000ft: How ‘Israel’s 9/11’ was averted after midair stabbing
Analysis: How the FlyDubai hijacking could help Netanyahu stay in power
13:00 , Maira ButtThe motives for an alleged hijacker to try and plunge a plane bound for Israel are vivid - and they are opaque.
But whether the attempt on Flight FZ1073 was in revenge for the thousands killed by Israel’s forces in Gaza or the consequences of a psychotic breakdown, only one person benefits. Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel’s longest-serving prime minister had just taken a similar flight path from the UAE to Israel as the ill-fated FlyDubai passengers.
He had been in Abu Dhabi, Israeli media has reported, because he was trying to get the president of the Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to say publicly that he had not warned Netanyahu about the October 7 2023 Hamas-led massacres.
How the FlyDubai hijacking could help Netanyahu stay in power
University had license to sponsor students suspended this week
12:31 , Maira ButtBuckinghamshire New University had its license to sponsor international students suspended with immediate effect on Wednesday, according to reports in the BBC.
It said that the suspension was due to “many of the issues raised by the Home Office relate to historic international student recruitment activity”.
It has 20 days to respond to the revocation and existing international students may continue to study there in the interim.
Breaking: Israeli hijacking co-pilot completed course at UK university
12:12 , Maira ButtHamam al-Hammami, a co-pilot who attacked a flight captain on a flight to Tel Aviv, completed a course at Buckinghamshire New University it has emerged.
A spokesperson for Buckinghamshire New University told The Independent: “Our thoughts are with the injured pilot, crew and passengers involved in this incident.
“Hamam al Hammami previously completed a distance-learning course in aviation management. He did not undertake any pilot training at the University.”
Polanski says Israel has 'definitely' operated false flag operations
11:57 , Maira ButtGreen Party leader Zack Polanski has said that Israel has “definitely” conducted false flag operations in the past.
“What I find really difficult to navigate is anti-Semitism on the Left,” he said in an episode of the Bold Politics podcast.
“Because, again, I want to be really clear: there are definitely examples of where the Israeli government [has] used false flags.”
It comes amid a row about anti-semitism in the party.
How a six-year-old girl helped avert Israel flight disaster after pilot stabbed
11:30 , Rituparna ChatterjeeA six-year-old girl played a crucial role in preventing a major disaster when a co-pilot attacked a flight captain on board a FlyDubai flight to Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
Nina Manes happened to ask her mother Tali to take her to the lavatory on board the flight just as the man, who is an Omani national but has not been named, attacked Indian Cpt Smit Machchhar by stabbing him repeatedly.
Air travel expert gives verdict on three key issues of the Flydubai plane hijacking
10:30 , Rituparna ChatterjeeThe alleged hijacking of an Israel-bound flight has raised questions over how secure the vetting process is for one of aviation’s most skilled jobs.
Flydubai FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv rapidly descended during a terrifying ordeal as the co-pilot allegedly tried to take control of the plane after attacking his fellow pilot with an axe, or possibly stabbing him.
It is still unclear why the co-pilot to acted in this way. Yet the question remains: how was this person able to bypass rigorous background checks and be given the responsibility of flying planes?
“It’s very easy after every incident to say, what more can we do?” Phillip Baum, visiting professor of aviation security at Coventry University, said.
“Often, airline pilots are recruited from other states, so the degree of background checks is somewhat limited. They’ll certainly have their pilot training and licenses, but in terms of background checks from other states, it’s always a problem.”
Israeli officials expected to question co-pilot of FlyDubai flight
09:30 , Rituparna ChatterjeeIsraeli officials are expected to question the co-pilot who allegedly attempted to crash a commercial passenger flight from Dubai bound for Tel Aviv, according to a source briefed on the investigation.
Disaster was averted on FlyDubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday after passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot, who had stabbed the captain in what Israeli officials have said was an apparent attempt to crash the plane carrying over 170 passengers and crew.
The co-pilot was transferred on Thursday to the UAE, where the source said Israeli officials were expected to question him.
The source declined to say which Israeli agency or authority would take part in the questioning.
Asked whether Israeli officials would question the co-pilot, an Israeli government official told Reuters that Israeli investigators would take part in the UAE-led investigation alongside Emirati authorities, seeking to determine what happened and examine the suspect's motives and background.
Israel plane attacker was banned from flying by Oman over suspected radicalisation - report
09:00 , Maira ButtThe FlyDubai co-pilot who stabbed his captain had previously been banned from flying over concerns he had radical ideological views, it has been reported.
Though the pilot- an Omani national - was banned by his country, he was still hired by FlyDubai, according to the Wall Street Journal.
However, the nature of his radicalisation has not been shared.
CNN reported that the pilot had been removed from a previous job at Oman’s national airline last year following concerns about his extremist views.
Israel plane attacker was banned from flying by Oman - report
Iran denies involvement in RAF Fairford air base security incidents
08:30 , Rituparna ChatterjeeThe leaders of Britain and the United States have suggested, without giving evidence, that Iran played a role in two major security incidents this week, the arrests near a US-run military base in England used in the war against Tehran and the attack in the cockpit of an Israel-bound plane.
As of Friday, no confirmed connection to the Islamic Republic had emerged.
Britain has not made public any evidence linking Iran to the air-base arrests on terrorism-related charges.
And an official who was not authorized to speak to the media said there is currently no evidence of a link between Iran and the cockpit attack.
The investigations are in the early stages.
If an Iranian link to the Britain arrests is confirmed, it would underline a strategy that Iran’s government has promoted for decades, using smaller, relatively low-cost attacks to needle and disrupt more powerful adversaries and their economies while causing friction among allies.
Iran has denied involvement in Sunday’s arrests close to the RAF Fairford air base, which has been used by US bombers to strike Iran.
Iranian leaders summoned Britain's ambassador and called on the British government to provide an official explanation.
Police on Thursday arrested a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian citizen on suspicion of plotting a terror attack, while five other suspects were released on bail.
Detectives said they found a quantity of an accelerant – gasoline – in vans near the air base, but no explosives.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the UK sees “strong indications” that Iran played a part in the incident but did not provide details.
Flydubai co-pilot attacked pilot with axe in attempted 'terrorist' attack, UAE says
08:00 , Maira ButtAn Omani co-pilot on FlyDubai flight FZ1073 attempted to carry out a “terrorist” attack during the flight, the United Arab Emirates prosecutor general said on Saturday, according to the state news agency WAM.
The co-pilot attacked the pilot inside the cockpit with an axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft, the prosecutor general said.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the incident, the motives and any related connections, as well as to examine physical and digital evidence, he added.
Boston native recalls moment plane started to plummet
07:30 , Rituparna ChatterjeeBoston native Mika Bauman tells NBC News an 11-year-old girl who was sitting next to her grabbed her hand as the FlyDubai plane started to plummet.
“We just held hands, me and her, and her father next to her, and we all screamed,” she said.
"We didn't let go until Saudi Arabia."
Bauman is a dual US-Israeli citizen who was flying home to Tel Aviv.
Co-pilot in FlyDubai attack identified
07:09 , Rituparna ChatterjeeThe co-pilot on the FlyDubai flight accused of attacking the plane’s captain was an Omani national named Hamam al-Hammami, according to reports.
'I realized that if I didn’t get up passengers would lose their lives'
06:30 , Rituparna ChatterjeeThe airline captain who helped thwart an apparent attempt to crash a FlyDubai flight told how he fought for his life in the minutes after his co-pilot stabbed him and the plane began a potentially deadly descent.
Capt. Smit Machchhar, from India, is now recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital.
He told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a video call broadcast live on television news channels that he knew he had to get back on his feet to save the passengers aboard the aircraft.
“I had so many wounds. I had fallen down,” he said from the hospital, his head bandaged and tubes in his nose, before breaking down as he recalled the attack.
Flydubai pilot reveals desperate attempts to unlock cockpit door
05:30 , Rituparna ChatterjeeThe Indian airline captain who was stabbed while foiling an alleged attempt by his co-pilot to crash a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has recalled the moment he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and restrain the attacker.
In a video call to the Indian prime minister while recovering in an Abu Dhabi hospital, Capt. Smit Machchhar said he knew he had to get back up to save the passengers aboard the aircraft.
"When I was on the ground, I realised that the aircraft is going down. And I told myself, 'This is the last push, Smit. The door is right there.' I was still getting hit, but I opened the door,” Mr Machchhar said.
'It was like the craziest roller coaster': Passenger recalls FlyDubai plane's sudden descent
05:00 , Rituparna ChatterjeePassenger Adam Polo, who was on the FlyDubai plane with his family told CNN the sudden descent felt “like a normal air pocket”.
But soon “the electricity, all of the multimedia system and the air conditioning in the airplane stopped working”, he said.
“People that were standing in the aisle or just going to the toilet, they fell, anyone that wasn’t sitting fell. So it was like the craziest roller coaster that you ever did, but multiplied by a thousand,” he told the news outlet.
What happened on the hijacked Israel flight and who was behind it?
04:42 , Rituparna ChatterjeeThe Flydubai flight FZ1073 incident has heightened security fears in Israel weeks before Israelis vote in the first election since the Hamas-led October 7 attack, with security a defining issue.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday named the pilot who was attacked as Captain Smit Machchhar, and praised him as a "true hero" for fighting back against the attacker and opening the cockpit door.
Flight FZ1073 took off from Dubai International Airport shortly after 3am UTC on Wednesday morning and was heading for Israel when it signalled an emergency code two hours into its journey, according to tracking website FlightRadar24.
Oman barred FlyDubai co-pilot from flying over extremism concerns
04:31 , Rituparna ChatterjeeThe FlyDubai co-pilot who stabbed a plane's captain in an apparent attempt to crash a flight with 182 people on board was barred from flying in his native Oman over security concerns, according to reports.
Though the pilot – an Omani national – was banned by his country, he was still hired by FlyDubai, according to the Wall Street Journal.
However, the nature of his radicalisation has not been shared.
Flydubai suspends flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv
03:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainFlydubai has suspended flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv while authorities investigate the cockpit attack.
The suspension has left passengers stranded and Israeli airlines El Al, Israir and Arkia are planning rescue flights from Dubai to bring travellers back on Friday.
Israel’s transportation ministry has also made an urgent request to Etihad Airways to increase flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.
In-flight attack on FlyDubai pilot puts aviation security measures under fresh scrutiny
02:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainIsrael has some of the world’s most stringent air travel security measures. The United Arab Emirates proudly adheres to international aviation safety standards. Yet those safeguards failed to prevent a flight between the countries from taking a dangerous plunge during an alleged attack in the cockpit.
The copilot allegedly stabbed the captain in the cockpit before passengers intervened aboard FlyDubai Flight FZ1073 after taking off from Dubai, UAE, with 174 people flying to Tel Aviv, Israel, on Wednesday.
The airplane made a safe emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and the incident is under investigation by Saudi, Emirati and Israeli authorities, with the United States and Oman assisting efforts to determine a motive.
In-flight attack on FlyDubai pilot puts aviation security measures under fresh scrutiny
How a six-year-old girl helped avert Israel flight disaster after pilot stabbed
01:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA six-year-old girl played a crucial role in preventing a major disaster when a co-pilot attacked a flight captain on board a FlyDubai flight to Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
Nina Manes happened to ask her mother Tali to take her to the lavatory on board the flight just as the man, who is an Omani national but has not been named, attacked Indian Cpt Smit Machchhar by stabbing him repeatedly.
Her mother raised the alarm after she heard shouting coming from the cockpit prompting cabin crew to rush to the scene.
How a six-year-old girl helped avert Israel flight disaster after pilot stabbed
How the FlyDubai hijacking could help Netanyahu stay in power
Saturday 3 October 2026 00:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe motives for an alleged hijacker to try and plunge a plane bound for Israel are vivid - and they are opaque.
But whether the attempt on Flight FZ1073 was in revenge for the thousands killed by Israel’s forces in Gaza or the consequences of a psychotic breakdown, only one person benefits. Benjamin Netanyahu.
Sam Kiley reports:
How the FlyDubai hijacking could help Netanyahu stay in power
Air travel expert gives verdict on three key issues of the Flydubai plane hijacking
Friday 2 October 2026 23:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe alleged hijacking of an Israel-bound flight has raised questions over how secure the vetting process is for one of aviation’s most skilled jobs.
Flydubai FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv rapidly descended during a terrifying ordeal as the co-pilot allegedly tried to take control of the plane after attacking his fellow pilot with an axe, or possibly stabbing him.
It is still unclear why the co-pilot to acted in this way. Yet the question remains: how was this person able to bypass rigorous background checks and be given the responsibility of flying planes?
Air travel expert gives verdict on three key issues of the Flydubai plane hijacking
Netanyahu says ‘whoever sent attacker will pay heavy price’
Friday 2 October 2026 22:02 , Maryam Zakir-HussainBenjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that Israel was looking into whether the co-pilot had acted under anyone's direction, warning in a video statement released by his office that whoever was involved would pay a "heavy price".
Most of the passengers on board were Israeli nationals.
Netanyahu on Thursday said that the co-pilot, whom he has identified as an Omani national, had undergone radical Islamist indoctrination and was clearly suicidal, but that so far a motive for his actions had not been established.
Senior UAE official calls Israel flight hijacking act of 'terrorism'
Friday 2 October 2026 22:01 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA senior UAE official has called the attempted hijacking of the FlyDubai flight to Israel an “act of terrorism”.
Anwar Gargash, an adviser to UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, also praised the Indian pilot who was stabbed, saying he “embodied the meaning of courage”.
He wrote on X: “The Indian pilot at "Flydubai," Smit Mathur, deserves every bit of appreciation, for he embodied the meaning of courage and responsibility in the face of a dangerous terrorist act and a potential disaster.
“His professionalism and moral sense in the darkest of circumstances make him a true hero. Far from the easy reduction of what happened or the adoption and promotion of conspiracy theories, vigilance and caution remain essential in confronting the risks of extremism and terrorism.”
يستحق الطيار الهندي في "فلاي دبي" سميت ماتشهار كل التقدير، فقد جسّد في مواجهة عمل ارهابي خطير وكارثة محتملة معنى الشجاعة والمسؤولية. مهنيته وحسّه الأخلاقي في أحلك الظروف يجعلان منه بطلاً حقيقياً.
— د. أنور قرقاش (@AnwarGargash) October 2, 2026
بعيدا عن الاختزال السهل لما جرى أو تبني وترويج نظريات المؤامرة، تبقى اليقظة…
Wounded captain says he had to get back on feet to save passengers
Friday 2 October 2026 22:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe FlyDubai captain told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he knew he had to get back on his feet to save everyone on board, after he was stabbed by his co-pilot and the aircraft plunged into a steep descent.
“I had so many wounds. I had fallen down,” Capt. Smit Machchhar said from a hospital in Abu Dhabi.
“I was fighting for my life. At one point I realized that if I didn’t get up … then passengers would lose their lives.”
Machchhar was seriously injured in Wednesday’s attack but managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and restrain the attacker as the Boeing 737 descended sharply, witnesses and Israeli authorities said.
The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, with 182 people on board, was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia for an emergency landing.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacker, an Omani national, was arrested in Saudi Arabia.
His motive for the attack was not immediately clear.
Israel was set to begin repatriation flights to bring back passengers stranded in the United Arab Emirates after commercial travel between the two countries was suspended following the attack.
Israeli strikes kill 2 people in Gaza City, local health officials say
Friday 2 October 2026 21:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainTwo separate Israeli strikes in Gaza City killed two people and wounded at least another, according to health officials at the Shifa hospital and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
Israel’s military acknowledged carrying out the strikes, saying that it hit militants in the areas, without elaborating.
Separately, the military said that it also killed a “Hamas sniper” in an airstrike in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis area, identifying him as Tamer Hamaida.
Palestinian health officials said Hamaida was killed in a strike carried out Thursday night.
The Israeli military’s chief Arabic-language spokesperson, Ella Waweya, said this week that the military targeted 70 militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad militant groups in the Gaza Strip in September.
Palestinians reported a surge in the strikes across the enclave over the past month.
Watch: Netanyahu says Flydubai co-pilot underwent Islamist radical indoctrination
Friday 2 October 2026 20:10 , Maira ButtFlydubai suspends flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv
Friday 2 October 2026 19:40 , Maira ButtFlydubai has suspended flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv while authorities investigate the cockpit attack.
The suspension has left passengers stranded and Israeli airlines El Al, Israir and Arkia are planning rescue flights from Dubai to bring travellers back on Friday.
Israel’s transportation ministry has also made an urgent request to Etihad Airways to increase flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.
Watch: Flydubai pilot reveals desperate attempts to unlock cockpit to passengers while being attacked
Friday 2 October 2026 19:10 , Maira ButtCaptain Smit Machchhar: Modi and Trump hail ‘hero’ Indian pilot who opened cockpit door after being stabbed
Friday 2 October 2026 18:40 , Maira ButtUS president Donald Trump and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi hailed the “hero” pilot who saved passengers from an attempted hijacking.
Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, fought off his co-pilot who stabbed him during an attempted midair attack on a flight to Israel.
Trump said he spoke to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the incident. He hailed Cpt Machchhar as a "hero" for fighting off the knife attack from the co-pilot, opening the cockpit door, and calling for help to foil a bid to crash the aircraft.
Modi and Trump hail ‘hero’ Indian pilot who opened cockpit door after being stabbed
Analysis: How the FlyDubai hijacking could help Netanyahu stay in power
Friday 2 October 2026 18:10 , Maira ButtThe motives for an alleged hijacker to try and plunge a plane bound for Israel are vivid - and they are opaque.
But whether the attempt on Flight FZ1073 was in revenge for the thousands killed by Israel’s forces in Gaza or the consequences of a psychotic breakdown, only one person benefits. Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel’s longest-serving prime minister had just taken a similar flight path from the UAE to Israel as the ill-fated FlyDubai passengers.
He had been in Abu Dhabi, Israeli media has reported, because he was trying to get the president of the Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to say publicly that he had not warned Netanyahu about the October 7 2023 Hamas-led massacres.
How the FlyDubai hijacking could help Netanyahu stay in power
Passenger describes moment Flydubai plane plunged 17,000ft
Friday 2 October 2026 17:40 , Maira ButtA passenger on the Flydubai flight has described the moment the aircraft plunged more than 17,000ft during the cockpit attack, saying it felt like a “rollercoaster”.
Adam Polovincik told the BBC that as the plane nosedived, he hugged his six-year-old son and three-year-old daughter “really hard”. He said that he tried to stay calm as the attack unfolded.
He said there had been a “huge degree of panic” on the plane as there was a “very, very, very sharp decrease in height”.
The aircraft later regained control after passengers and crew intervened and landed safely at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.
Indian pilot received training in New Zealand
Friday 2 October 2026 17:10 , Maira ButtCaptain Smit Machchhar trained as a pilot at Mainland Air in the New Zealand city of Dunedin for 18 months, beginning in 2008, the school's CEO, Philip Kean, told 1News.
Kean said Machchhar "did very well" as a student and later returned to India where he worked as a recruiter for the school.
"We're all very proud of him here and wish him a speedy recovery," he said.
SpiceJet, in a post on X, praised Machchhar's "heroic courage" and "selfless actions."
"You are a hero to us all, Captain," the airline wrote.
After he was injured in the cockpit, Machchhar was taken to a hospital and was in stable condition, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, said late Wednesday.
Embassy officials were in contact with his family and Saudi authorities.
