New Delhi: Indian pilot Smit Machchhar has been praised by Indian and Israeli leaders after he helped prevent a flydubai aircraft bound for Israel from crashing following an alleged mid-air attack by his co-pilot.
Machchhar, who is recovering at a hospital in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, was reportedly stabbed by the co-pilot on Wednesday in an attempt to crash the aircraft carrying 174 people, according to Israeli officials.
Despite being seriously injured, the captain managed to activate the mechanism that opened the cockpit door. This allowed passengers and crew members to overpower the co-pilot, while two flydubai pilots travelling as passengers helped land the aircraft.
Captain Smit Machchhar has shown the world the highest form of courage.
Without fearing for his own life, he fought valiantly and prevented another 9/11 like attack from happening.
140 crore Indians salute Captain Smit and are praying for his well-being. pic.twitter.com/YGTA9CFCAg
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 1, 2026
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the pilot’s courage, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also described him as a hero.
The veteran Boeing 737 captain has accumulated nearly 9,750 flying hours during a career spanning around 15 years. However, aviation was not part of his childhood plans.
Throughout his career, the veteran pilot has dealt with situations including flight diversions for medical emergencies and delays caused by technical issues. In a 2025 interview, he said his priority was ensuring passengers safely left the aircraft.
Smit Machchhar has also maintained a clear separation between his professional and personal life. He has said that once he leaves the cockpit, he prefers not to discuss aviation and instead focuses on spending time with his children and family.
MOST READ | ASA bans Huel advert over irresponsible diet claims
