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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu credited Captain Smit Machchhar with saving all 174 people aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 after the captain was stabbed repeatedly by his co-pilot in an alleged attempt to crash the aircraft on September 30. Despite suffering massive blood loss, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door from the floor, allowing passengers and crew to rush in and overpower the attacker, according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office reported by the Times of Israel. Two off-duty Flydubai pilots who were traveling as passengers then took control and diverted the Boeing 737 to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. The co-pilot, believed to be an Omani national, was arrested after the incident.
Netanyahu described Machchhar’s actions as preventing what he called a potential 9/11-style disaster, noting in a post on X that the pilot had shown extraordinary bravery despite serious injuries. A passenger who is a dentist helped stem the bleeding during the chaos and told CNN that Machchhar suddenly lost consciousness with blood pressure plummeting, adding that a few more moments without aid could have been fatal. The Indian embassy in Riyadh stated that Machchhar remained in stable condition in a Tabuk hospital following surgery. A local Mumbai politician cited family members in confirming the pilot was out of danger.
Machchhar grew up in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar East suburb and trained at Mainland Air aviation college in New Zealand starting in 2008 before becoming a commercial pilot with India’s SpiceJet three years later. He joined Flydubai in 2022 as a direct-entry captain and had logged more than 9,750 hours on Boeing 737 aircraft, the Telegraph reported. Known to friends and colleagues as a jovial family man and father of two, he had been based in Dubai.
In a statement on X, Netanyahu said, “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 disaster. He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals. I wish Captain Machchhar a speedy and full recovery. He is a true hero.” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi separately lauded the pilot, writing on X that Machchhar showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect others in the face of gravest danger. Modi added that the pilot’s valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy. Israeli President Isaac Herzog recommended civilian heroism awards for four passengers who helped subdue the attacker.
Passengers recounted terrifying moments as the plane plunged 17,400 feet in under two minutes, with one telling CNN, “I was just sure I was going to die.” The rapid descent followed the stabbing and struggle inside the locked cockpit before the door was opened, multiple outlets including CNN reported. All aboard eventually reached Israel after the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Machchhar’s background in Indian and UAE aviation came into focus as leaders from both nations highlighted his role in averting disaster on the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv route. The Indian government praised his immense courage in official statements carried by several news outlets. Investigations continued into the co-pilot’s motives, with Netanyahu indicating the attacker apparently hated Israelis though his exact background remained under review.
