Flydubai: Could This Happen Again?

On 30 September, Flydubai Flight FZ1073 came dangerously close to catastrophe after an attack inside the cockpit sent the Boeing 737 into a 14,000-foot plunge. Captain Smit Machchhar, cabin crew and passengers managed to regain control and save all 174 lives. But the incident raises a far bigger question: after decades of securing aircraft from threats outside the cockpit, are we prepared for a threat that comes from inside it? In this special discussion, Lt Gen P. R. Shankar and Group Captain Mohanty Pangong, join Sandeep Unnithan and examine the unanswered questions around the Flydubai incident: from pilot recruitment and psychological screening to insider threats, cockpit security and the possibility of an airliner being turned into a weapon. What happens if a pilot deliberately tries to take control of an aircraft? Who has the authority to stop it? And does India have a national response architecture capable of dealing with such a threat? The Flydubai incident may have been averted. But what does it reveal about the vulnerabilities that still remain? #Flydubai #AviationSecurity #CaptainSmitMachchhar #AviationSafety #CockpitSecurity #Aviation #AirDefence #PilotSafety #911 #India About Chakra In an era where drones, semiconductors, and alliances reshape the battlefield and the boardroom, Chakra cuts through the noise — offering access, depth, and clarity. From exclusive interviews with top brass and policymakers to longform investigations and data-rich explainers, we bring you the stories that matter — strategically, technologically, and geopolitically. Rooted in rigour. Driven by insight. Focused on India’s emergence as a strategic and technological power. Visit us at chakranewz.com or write to us at info@escapevelocitymediaworks.in. You can also find us on social media on Twitter: @chakranewz Instagram: @chakranewz_com