‘Who’s Going To Save You?’: Old Podcast Of flydubai Captain Goes Viral After Mid-Air Attack

Long before flydubai captain Smit Machchhar found himself fighting for his life inside a cockpit at 35,000 feet, he had spoken about an aspect of flying most passengers rarely consider — what happens when an emergency becomes so serious that there is nowhere to turn for immediate help.

Now, after Machchhar was allegedly attacked inside the cockpit of flydubai flight FZ1073 and passengers and crew stepped in to help, an old podcast featuring the Indian captain has resurfaced online.

In the recording, Machchhar discusses the critical role cabin crew can play when something goes badly wrong in the air.

“When we are up there and something happens, who’s going to save you?”

He then points out that a doctor may happen to be travelling on board, but there is no guarantee.

“You’ll be lucky enough to have a doctor on board… but if not, then…”

Machchhar goes on to explain why trained crew can become crucial in an emergency.

“They may not be trained to do surgeries but they can save your life.”

Those words, spoken long before the incident, have taken on a striking resonance after the events aboard FZ1073.

When The Captain Became The Passenger In Need

Machchhar was reportedly attacked inside the cockpit by another pilot while the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight was in the air on September 30.

The Indian captain suffered multiple injuries and significant blood loss.

According to Dr Shota Mosaev, a dentist travelling on the aircraft, Machchhar's condition deteriorated during the emergency. His blood pressure began falling and he eventually lost consciousness.

Mosaev recalled seeing the captain covered in cuts, with severe injuries to his head and hands.

At 35,000 feet, there was no emergency room, operating theatre or hospital waiting nearby.

The people already inside the aircraft became the immediate line of help.

Dentist Treats Injured Captain As Passengers Restrain Attacker

Mosaev, who was travelling as a passenger, treated the injured captain and attempted to control the bleeding.

At the same time, passengers intervened to restrain the alleged attacker.

According to Mosaev, passengers first used a headphone cord and later plastic zip ties to restrain him.

The response extended beyond the dentist. Passengers stepped in, while off-duty pilots travelling on the aircraft also became involved as the situation unfolded.

The episode brought into reality the very point Machchhar had made in his earlier podcast: when something goes wrong in the air, the people already on board can become the only immediate support available.

‘When Things Are Going Wrong, You Need Them’

In the podcast, Machchhar also spoke about how passengers sometimes view cabin crew.

He suggested that their role can be underestimated because passengers generally associate them with routine duties such as serving food, assisting during boarding or giving safety instructions.

But emergencies change that equation.

“It is unfortunate how the outlook of people is towards the crew but when things are going wrong, you need them,”

Machchhar said.

His comments were not made in anticipation of the ordeal that would later unfold aboard FZ1073. He was speaking more broadly about the importance of trained crew during emergencies.

Yet the old recording now carries a very different weight.

The Doctor Who Happened To Be On Board

Machchhar had specifically pointed out that passengers may be fortunate enough to have a doctor on board when an emergency occurs.

On FZ1073, that happened.

Mosaev, a dentist, was among the passengers and was able to provide medical assistance to the injured captain.

But the response did not depend on one person alone. Passengers helped restrain the attacker, while crew and off-duty pilots also became involved.

The aircraft ultimately diverted and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Machchhar was taken to hospital for treatment and was later reported to be in stable condition.

An Old Podcast, A Very Different Meaning

There is an unmistakable irony in the resurfaced recording.

Machchhar had once spoken about what happens when people are suddenly placed in danger thousands of feet above the ground — and about the importance of the people around them when there is no immediate outside help.

During the flydubai emergency, he became the person who needed that help.

According to accounts of the incident, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door despite his injuries, allowing people outside to enter and assist. Passengers then helped overpower and restrain the alleged attacker, while Mosaev treated the wounded captain.

The old podcast was recorded as a discussion about aviation and emergency preparedness. But after September 30, Machchhar's words have acquired an entirely different context.

Sometimes, an old interview becomes striking not because the speaker was predicting what would happen, but because a later event gives those words a meaning nobody could have anticipated.