Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday praised Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his courage during a dramatic mid-air emergency aboard a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, saying his actions helped save hundreds of lives and avert a major tragedy.
“Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO,” Modi said in a post on X, praising the pilot for showing courage despite suffering serious injuries.
“India is proud of Captain Machchhar,” the Prime Minister added while wishing him a speedy recovery and good health.
What Happened on Flydubai Flight FZ1073?
The incident occurred on Wednesday aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv, Israel.
According to Israeli officials, the co-pilot stabbed Captain Machchhar during an altercation in the cockpit and allegedly attempted to crash the aircraft. The plane plunged nearly 14,000 feet, or about 4,267 metres, in less than 30 seconds during the incident.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were 174 people on board, most of them Israeli nationals.
The motive behind the incident remains under investigation.
Injured Captain Managed to Open Cockpit Door
According to a spokesperson for Netanyahu, Machchhar was seriously injured and lying on the cockpit floor when he managed to activate the mechanism that opened the cockpit door.
Passengers and crew then entered the cockpit and overpowered the co-pilot, Israeli officials said.
Two other flydubai pilots who were travelling on the aircraft subsequently helped take control of the plane and landed it safely at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.
The passengers later continued their journey to Israel on a replacement aircraft and reached Tel Aviv safely.
Netanyahu Calls Machchhar a ‘True Hero’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised the Indian captain, describing him as a “true hero”.
Netanyahu said Machchhar’s actions helped save the lives of the 174 people aboard the aircraft, including Israeli citizens and nationals of other countries.
Netanyahu described the episode as a serious security incident and said Saudi authorities would question the co-pilot, who was taken into custody after the aircraft landed.
Trump Also Praises Indian Pilot
US President Donald Trump also referred to Captain Machchhar as a hero while discussing the incident with reporters at the White House.
Trump said he had spoken at length with Netanyahu about what happened. However, he also cautioned that the detailed account he was recounting had come from Netanyahu and was not something he could independently confirm.
Captain Machchhar Stable in Saudi Hospital
Captain Machchhar is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Tabuk.
The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said he was reported to be in stable condition and was receiving necessary medical care.
Indian authorities said they were in contact with his family and Saudi officials and would extend all possible assistance for his recovery.
Reports said Machchhar underwent surgery after the incident.
Mumbai-Born Pilot Has Nearly 15 Years of Flying Experience
Machchhar, who hails from Mumbai, is an experienced Boeing 737 captain with nearly 9,750 flying hours over a career spanning about 15 years.
According to his LinkedIn profile, cited by Reuters, he worked with SpiceJet for around 11 years before joining flydubai in 2022.
He had risen to become a line training captain at SpiceJet, mentoring other pilots before moving to the Dubai-based airline.
Flydubai Warns Against Speculation Over Motive
Flydubai has confirmed that an incident occurred on the flight deck but said the reasons behind it remain unknown.
“At this early stage, the underlying reasons and motives behind this event are unknown,” the airline said, urging against premature speculation while authorities investigate.
The airline temporarily suspended flights to and from Israel following the incident.
Saudi authorities are investigating the alleged attack, while the precise motive and full sequence of events have yet to be officially established.
For now, Captain Smit Machchhar remains under medical care in Saudi Arabia, with leaders in India, Israel and the United States publicly praising his actions during the emergency.
