Mumbai-Born flydubai Pilot Smit Machchhar Stable After Cockpit Attack, Praised by Modi.
Dubai: A Dubai-based Indian flydubai pilot is being widely praised for his actions during a serious security incident on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, in which he was injured during a violent confrontation on the flight deck.
Captain Smit Machchhar, a Mumbai-born Boeing 737 pilot with more than 13 years of aviation experience, was reportedly wounded and on the cockpit floor when he managed to activate the cockpit door release. This allowed passengers and crew members to enter the flight deck and intervene after the co-pilot allegedly attacked him with a knife.
The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Saudi Arabia, where it made a safe emergency landing.
Machchhar’s actions quickly drew international attention. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the captain for helping avert a potential disaster, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu credited Machchhar and passengers aboard flight FZ1073 for their actions during the incident.
From textiles to the flight deck
A career in aviation was not initially part of Smit Machchhar’s plans. According to Reuters, he had been expected to join his family’s textile business before developing an interest in flying at the age of 19. His mother was reportedly concerned about his decision to pursue aviation at first.
Machchhar holds a Diploma in Man-Made Textile Chemistry from the SASMIRA Institute of Man-Made Textiles in Mumbai, as well as a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Welingkar Institute of Management. He later pursued professional pilot training in New Zealand.
11 years at SpiceJet
According to his LinkedIn profile, Machchhar worked at SpiceJet from June 2011 until June 2022, progressing to the positions of Senior Commander and Line Training Captain. He took on the training role in November 2020.
During his time with the airline, he logged more than 9,500 flying hours, including over 6,400 hours as pilot-in-command.
As a Line Training Captain, his responsibilities included conducting line training and checks, mentoring other pilots and helping ensure flight crews followed company procedures and required safety standards.
Life at flydubai
Machchhar joined flydubai in June 2022 as a Direct Entry Captain on the airline’s Boeing 737 fleet.
His LinkedIn profile lists a total of 9,750 flying hours on the Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737 MAX 8/9 aircraft.
On LinkedIn, Machchhar describes himself as an “Airline Captain, Lifelong Learner, Father” and says he aims to help others “Fly Higher.”
His profile highlights pilot mentoring, crew resource management, flight standards and compliance, and leadership in high-workload environments among his core professional skills. It also states his ambition to become part of flydubai’s training team.
Reuters also reports that Machchhar generally prefers to keep conversations about aviation in the cockpit and rarely discusses his profession with people outside the industry.
What happened on FZ1073
On Wednesday, September 30, Machchhar was in command of flydubai flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with about 174 people on board.
During the flight, the aircraft transmitted emergency transponder code 7700, which indicates a general emergency. Seven minutes later, it switched to code 7500, used to signal unlawful interference.
According to Flightradar24 data, the aircraft lost more than 14,000 feet of altitude in just 29 seconds.
During the confrontation on the flight deck, Machchhar was reportedly stabbed by the co-pilot. Despite suffering serious injuries, the captain is reported to have resisted the attack and, while wounded on the cockpit floor, managed to activate the cockpit door release.
This allowed passengers and crew members to enter the flight deck and overpower the alleged attacker.
A passenger identified as Musaev told CNN that when he reached the cockpit, he saw the alleged attacker on top of the captain and continuing to stab him. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu identified Yaniv Hayun as the passenger who entered the cockpit.
The aircraft was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. flydubai subsequently sent replacement aircraft to Tabuk to assist passengers and crew in continuing their journeys.
Indian Embassy confirms captain is stable
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General of India in Jeddah confirmed on Wednesday that Machchhar was injured during the incident and was receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Tabuk.
He underwent surgery and was reported to be in stable condition.
In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh praised Machchhar’s courage, saying that despite suffering a serious injury, his actions helped save many lives.
The embassy said he was receiving the necessary medical care and remained stable, while expressing support for the captain and his family. It also shared Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tribute to Machchhar and pinned the message to its profile.
What flydubai said
In its official statement, flydubai said an “altercation” had taken place on the flight deck but did not refer to a stabbing.
The airline said off-duty flydubai crew members travelling on board helped secure the aircraft, divert the flight and ensure a safe landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
flydubai also urged against premature speculation about the incident while the relevant authorities continue to investigate and establish the facts.
Praise from world leaders
Machchhar’s actions drew praise from several political leaders.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Machchhar as a hero and said his courage had helped save hundreds of lives, adding that India was proud of him.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also described the captain as a “true hero”, saying his actions helped save 174 lives. He credited both Machchhar and passengers aboard the flight with helping avert a potential catastrophe.
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump also praised Machchhar as a hero. Referring to the co-pilot, Trump said he may have been a terrorist or, in his words, “a whack job”. Authorities have not publicly established a motive for the incident.
President of India Droupadi Murmu also paid tribute to Machchhar on X, saying the country was proud of him and praising what she described as his “incredible presence of mind”.
Murmu said that despite being seriously injured, the captain remained focused on protecting others and helping prevent a major tragedy. She praised his “indomitable spirit” and wished him a speedy recovery.
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said Israelis were praying for Machchhar’s recovery. Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, and India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, also publicly praised the captain.
Reaction on social media
The incident quickly attracted widespread attention on social media in India, with journalists, actors, cricketers and other public figures praising Machchhar’s actions.
Senior journalist Aditya Raj Kaul was among those who posted about the captain, while several personalities from Bollywood and Indian cricket described him as a hero.
Israeli commentator Eitan Fischberger called Machchhar “a hero among heroes”. Responses to Modi’s post also highlighted the international attention the captain had received, with praise coming from figures in India, Israel, the UAE and the United States.
