Indian aviator Captain Smit Machchhar has been celebrated as a hero after he was stabbed mid-flight on a Flydubai journey from Dubai to Tel Aviv, an incident that forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The attack, carried out by another pilot, led Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to credit Machchhar with saving 174 lives and averting a potential disaster.
Machchhar remains in stable condition at a hospital in Tabuk, north-western Saudi Arabia, according to the Indian embassy in Riyadh. Flight tracking data indicates the Boeing 737 MAX 8 began a rapid descent of over 17,000 feet in under two minutes approximately two and a half hours after departing Dubai International Airport at 03:05 GMT on Wednesday.
Netanyahu confirmed that the assailant appeared to attempt crashing the aircraft before an Israeli passenger and crew member breached the cockpit and subdued the attacker. The plane, which briefly entered Jordanian airspace, ultimately landed at Tabuk Airport at 06:58 GMT.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Machchhar’s “immense courage and unwavering resolve,” stating that his actions helped prevent a great tragedy. US President Donald Trump, speaking from the White House, also commended the pilot’s quick thinking in opening the cockpit door to allow assistance during the assault.
Machchhar, a native of Mumbai, joined SpiceJet in 2011 after training at Mainland Air in New Zealand. He moved to Dubai to join Flydubai in 2022, accumulating over 9,750 flying hours, including more than 6,400 as pilot-in-command. Philip Kean, CEO of Mainland Air, described him as a calm and honest worker, noting that while they trained for forced landings, attacks of this nature are exceptionally rare.
SpiceJet issued a statement calling Machchhar a hero who had saved countless lives. Following the emergence of his identity, Indian social media platforms saw an outpouring of support, with viral snippets from a past podcast interview highlighting his professional dedication and advice on maintaining work-life balance.
Israeli Foreign Minister S Jaishankar highlighted the pilot’s extraordinary presence of mind in the face of grave danger, while initial reports suggested the motive for the attack remains under investigation.
Did the attackers’ crew also get heroic treatment, or is all the attention going to just the Indian pilot?
I never want to fly again. Someone breaching the cockpit on a Boeing 737 is absolutely terrifying to think about.
A pilot attacking another plane? The motive needs to be clearer before we label him a terrorist. This feels rushed.
Heroic actions saved 174 lives. Captain Machchhar deserves every bit of praise for keeping his cool under such extreme pressure.