Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar has received widespread praise after a violent assault in the cockpit of a Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv left him seriously injured and triggered an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Narendra Modi called Machchhar a “HERO” in a statement, praising his courage and determination after Flydubai flight FZ1073’s failure. Modi said the pilot’s actions helped protect passengers and averted a disaster like that in the incident, he said.
The incident occurred on September 30, when the Boeing 737 MAX 8 was on its way from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Another co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain in the cockpit. The aircraft lost approximately 14,000 feet of altitude in less than 30 seconds.
PM Modi Praises Captain Smit Machchhar
After the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly praised the Indian pilot.
"Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO,” Narendra Modi said in a post on X, saying despite being seriously injured, the captain showed courage and remained determined to protect the lives of others.
Modi said Machchhar’s actions helped save hundreds of lives and prevent a major tragedy, adding that India was proud of the pilot.
What happened inside the Flydubai cockpit?
Flydubai flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai International Airport to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv when the cockpit incident occurred.
The co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Machchhar with a knife and attempted to take control of the aircraft. The plane fell into a fast descent during the fight, said sources.
Despite being seriously injured, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door. This allowed passengers and crew members to enter the cockpit and help overpower the attacker, Israeli officials and Reuters reported.
Two off-duty Flydubai pilots who were flying as passengers then helped control the aircraft. The flight was diverted to Tabuk in northwest Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
The flight was carrying 174 people, as reported by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. All passengers and crew members were then confirmed safe and accounted for.
Netanyahu Calls Machchhar a ‘True Hero’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised the Indian captain's actions.
Netanyahu said Machchhar kept fighting back despite being stabbed and seriously injured and opened the cockpit door to let passengers and crew overwhelm the attacker.
He said the captain's actions prevented a potentially catastrophic mid-air disaster and credited him with helping save the lives of 174 people on board. Netanyahu also wished Machchhar a swift and complete recovery.
Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 1, 2026
In the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, he showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others.
His valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy.
India is proud of…
Donald Trump Also Praises the Pilot
President Donald Trump also called Machchhar a hero when he discussed the incident with Netanyahu.
Trump said the pilot was seriously injured but managed to open the cockpit door, which was when others intervened. He was speaking with the world’s attention on the incident and the actions of the injured captain.
My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery.
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) September 30, 2026
Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air…
Captain Smit Machchhar's Aviation Career
Machchhar has been identified as an Indian national and a Flydubai captain. According to his professional profile, he joined Flydubai in June 2022 after spending around 11 years with SpiceJet.
#WATCH | US President Donald Trump says, "I spoke to Benjamin Netanyahu about this incident... It seems as though the co-pilot was perhaps a terrorist or perhaps a whack job, and he stabbed the pilot... The pilot was in very bad shape... But in a way, he was a hero to open the… https://t.co/BtPf9V0O5A pic.twitter.com/k8Yiy4Ftge
— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2026
He had previously served as a senior commander and line training captain with SpiceJet. His professional profile lists thousands of hours of flying experience on Boeing 737 aircraft.
Investigation Into the Incident Continues
While Israeli officials have said that the co-pilot attempted to crash the plane, the actual motive behind the co-pilot’s actions has not been pinpointed.
Flydubai has urged people to avoid speculation while authorities investigate. The airline said the plane was secured by Flydubai crew members on board and diverted to Tabuk Airport.
The incident has also triggered discussions about aviation security and pilot screening. Israel said it would beef up security checks for pilots flying into the country following the incident.
Still, Captain Machchhar’s actions during the emergency have been praised by the leaders of India, Israel, and the United States, while the full sequence of events and the motivation behind the cockpit attack is being investigated.
