Donald Trump has praised Indian Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar as a “hero” following a dramatic mid-air incident in which the pilot was allegedly stabbed by his co-pilot when flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Trump spoke in front of reporters and said he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about what happened aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073. Trump called Machchhar a hero for being able to open the cockpit door and seek help despite being seriously injured.
“The pilot was in very bad shape,” Trump said, recounting the information he got about the incident. He said Machchhar had the presence of mind, however, to open the cockpit door to let passengers and crew intervene.
The plane had more than 170 passengers when there was a violent clash in the cockpit. The plane then dropped into a steep descent before passengers and crew intervened, making the plane reach Tabuk airport in north-western Saudi Arabia for an emergency landing.
Machchhar, who is an Indian national from Mumbai, was seriously injured in the attack. He was able to unlock the cockpit door despite his injuries, and passengers were able to enter and help hold the attacking co-pilot down, reports said.
Trump said he also described the co-pilot as “perhaps a terrorist or perhaps a whack job,” but also said the circumstances and motive were still under investigation. No firm motive has been established publicly, and Flydubai has suggested that speculation be tempered amid a formal investigation.
"The brave Indian pilot was attacked by terrorist. He is in very bad shape, but he had the sense to, amazing, to, in a way he was a HERO"
— News Algebra (@NewsAlgebraIND) October 1, 2026
"He RIPPED this guy out of the seat, threw him back, the passengers grabbed him!"
- Donald Trump praises Indian pilot Smit Machchhar…
The incident took place on the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight on Sept. 30. The aircraft plunged into a panic-stricken descent when the airliner met with the other plane, and everybody on board jumped in to save the life of the captain, the Associated Press reported. The captain was hospitalized in Saudi Arabia and was in good condition.
Machchhar’s actions have received praise from officials in India and Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his actions were extraordinary bravery - and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised the captain’s courage in the face of grave danger.
Some passengers entered the cockpit and intervened and helped to overpower the attacker. An Israeli plumber, Yaniv Hayoun, who was travelling on board, helped fight with the attacker and regain control of the aircraft, one passenger said. A dentist travelling on board also helped to assist the injured pilot.
Machchhar has extensive aviation experience. Sources say he’s worked with SpiceJet for almost 11 years before joining Flydubai in 2022. He has landed thousands of flight hours on Boeing 737 aircraft.
The event has received worldwide attention because of the fast-moving sequence of events in the cockpit and the desperate efforts of the injured captain, passengers and crew to prevent the plane from blowing up.
Trump’s remarks have added another high-profile recognition of Machchhar’s actions. Investigations into the circumstances and motive behind the cockpit assault continue to expose the role of the Indian pilot in the matter as a key factor in enabling passengers and crew to intervene and providing the flight with the means to reach safety.
