'India is proud': PM Modi hails Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar as ‘hero’ after mid-air cockpit horror

“Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO,” Modi said in a post on X on Thursday. He praised Machchhar for showing “immense courage” and “an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others” despite being seriously injured.

“His valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy. India is proud of Captain Machchhar,” Modi added, while praying for the pilot’s speedy recovery, renewed strength and good health.

The incident took place on September 30 aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 people on board. The aircraft experienced a serious security incident during the flight and was eventually diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing. UAE aviation authorities said an investigation into the circumstances was continuing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also lavished praise on the Indian pilot.

"My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery. 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," Netanyahu said.'

What Captain Machchhar did

According to reporting by The Jerusalem Post, passenger Yaniv Hayoun told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Machchhar, despite being badly wounded, managed to unlock the cockpit door before losing consciousness.

That action proved crucial: passengers and crew were then able to enter the cockpit and help overpower the attacker. The Jerusalem Post reported that Machchhar also managed to communicate that the other pilot had stabbed him.

Netanyahu subsequently praised Machchhar, saying that despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted and opened the cockpit door, enabling passengers and crew to subdue the attacker.

Passengers also helped save the injured captain. Israeli dentist Shota Musayev reportedly provided first aid to Machchhar, who had suffered serious injuries and substantial blood loss, before he was taken to hospital after the aircraft landed in Tabuk.

The aircraft had undergone a dramatic descent during the confrontation before other crew members and passengers helped regain control. The exact circumstances and motive behind the cockpit attack remain under investigation, and officials have cautioned against drawing premature conclusions.

Machchhar, an Indian national, is an experienced commercial pilot who previously flew for SpiceJet before joining Flydubai. Reports citing his professional profile say he has more than 13 years of commercial flying experience and thousands of hours on Boeing 737 aircraft. He is currently recovering in a hospital in Tabuk and has been reported to be in stable condition.

For India, the dramatic episode has now turned Captain Smit Machchhar into a symbol of courage under extreme pressure — with the Prime Minister publicly declaring: “India is proud of Captain Machchhar.”