Film to Honor Bravery & Heroic Actions of Pilots and Passengers

October 14, 2026 — Global media production and distribution company Dori Media Group and India-based Sphereorigins are set to co-produce a new feature film about the recent attempted hi-jacking of the Israeli-bound flydubai flight that was foiled by the pilot and fellow passengers, it was announced today by Dori Media Group CEO Nadav Palti and CMD Sunjoy Waddhwa from Sphereorigins.

The two companies will develop and produce the film which will dramatize the real-life events surrounding the recent flight and honor the contributions of the pilots and passengers whose courageous actions exemplified the triumph of the human spirit in the most challenging of circumstances.​

With a presence in Zurich, Buenos Aires, and Tel Aviv, Dori Media Group is one of the world’s leading distribution and production companies, behind such hit scripted series as Emmy Award-winner In Treatment, Rebelde Way, Lalola and AMIA, inspired by terror attacks on the Israeli embassy and Jewish community in Argentina.

Sphereorigins is an established Indian media and entertainment company with over two decades of experience and more than 15,000 hours of programming across its portfolio. The deal to co-produce the film between Dori Media and Sphereorigins was brokered by Subhadarshi Tripathy.

“We are honored to jointly produce this special film with the team at Sphereorigins,” says Dori’s Palti. “What happened on that flight was nothing short of a miracle and we will approach this film by looking to tell the heroic story of the pilot and those brave passengers who helped save the lives of many aboard that historic flight.”

“We were approached by streaming platforms and broadcasters in India expressing interest to tell the heroic story of the Indian pilot and the courageous Israeli passengers on that recent flight,” said Sunjoy Waddhwa from Sphereorigins. “We are privileged to collaborate with Dori Media on this premium project as we have known and worked with them for a long time and together with Subh (Subhadarshi Tripathy) felt they’d be the ideal partner to produce a film of this caliber.”

On September 30, a co-pilot on flydubai flight 1073 allegedly stabbed the plane’s pilot and attempted to crash the aircraft after takeoff from Dubai International Airport. The flight which was headed to Tel Aviv, Israel, plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds after a struggle in the cockpit. Passengers and crew were able to overpower the co-pilot and enabled a second pair of flydubai pilots who were aboard the flight to land the jet ‌safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The flight carried 174 passengers and eight crew members, including the pilot and co-pilot.

Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian-based pilot who was allegedly stabbed by his co-pilot, was able to heroically open the cockpit door to let others in to stave off the hi-jacking.

«I was lying on the floor injured but I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside,» he said in a video call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “I was of course fighting for my own life but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die.”

Dori Media recently announced its largest slate of unscripted series in the company’s history as it headed into international TV conference MIPCOM. The company unveiled numerous new unscripted game shows, dating formats and docu-series available to the world marketplace, including game/quiz shows “The Hive” and “You Should Know.” Other new series included docu-series “My Hottest Years” and bold new primetime reality format “New Love” from “Power Couple” creators Abot Hameiri (Fremantle Israel).

About Dori Media Group

Dori Media Group is a leading international group of media companies with a diverse global catalogue – from scripted drama and comedy to reality, docu-series, and kids’ programming sold to a wide variety of platforms in more than 100 countries. With a presence in Zurich, Buenos Aires, and Tel Aviv, Dori Media licenses shows and formats produced in-house, alongside third-party content. Its catalogue includes international hits such as Be’Tipul (In Treatment, En Terapia), Lalola, Rebelde Way, Ciega a Citas, Power Couple, Smart Face / Lo Sabe No Lo Sabe, among many others. Visit us at www.dorimedia.com

About Sphereorigins

Founded in 2002 by Sunjoy Waddhwa and Comall, Sphereorigins is an established Indian media and entertainment company with over two decades of experience and more than 15,000 hours of programming across its portfolio. Combining a strong foundation in original content creation with expertise in adapting international formats for Indian audiences, Sphereorigins has built a diverse body of work rooted in compelling narratives, relatable characters, and culturally resonant storytelling. With original productions reaching audiences across multiple countries, the company continues to demonstrate the global appeal of authentic Indian stories. Sphereorigins looks to build on this legacy by exploring new creative collaborations, international partnerships, and opportunities to bring distinctive stories and formats to audiences worldwide.

About IPHUB Ventures Ltd

IPHUB Ventures Ltd, a Canadian company founded by industry expert Subhadarshi Tripathy, specializes in trading intellectual property. The company’s core idea is that compelling stories can transcend borders and formats. To achieve this, IPHUB produces, acquires, licenses, and develops screen rights, subsequently adapting them for various languages, markets, and formats to reach their intended audiences.